Big ideas for Boston shouldn’t rely on fleeting events like the Olympics. Fellow experts in the events industry were excited and skeptical about hosting the Olympics in Boston. The skepticism comes from our city’s lack of accommodation, size of facilities, and additional stressors on our transportation and security infrastructures.
As Boston prepares for its and our country’s 250th anniversaries and the future of the Hynes Convention Center, we have an opportunity to advance a bold vision for the city and build the infrastructure needed to protect and bolster Boston’s position as a world-class destination and city.
Linda Robson
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Beverly
The writer is a professor in the school of business at Endicott College.
Return to Olympic traditions
No matter what city hosts the Olympics, it always seems to create a huge budget overage and then leave a plethora of infrastructure that generally becomes useless and rots away. This is extremely wasteful both in an economic sense and due to the use of resources. As the Games began in ancient times in Greece, how about we see if that country would agree to having the Games moved there permanently. Permanent, quality infrastructure could be built that could last for generations. The boost to its economy could be great if handled correctly.
Of course some events would have to happen elsewhere, as they do already. But by not constantly moving the Games around the world, much would be saved in time, resources, and economic chaos. The Olympics are of Greek origin. Let’s return them to their rightful owner.
The teens were detained along with a “black and red replica firearm,” two fake magazines and the victim’s iPhone, Boston police said
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A stock image of a playground
Two teenagers have been arrested and charged for allegedly robbing a 9-year-old boy on a Boston playground.
The victim was at Children’s Park, a public playground, in the evening of Thursday, July 25, waiting for a cookout to begin when he was approached by two teen boys, according to a police report obtained by PEOPLE.
While brandishing and pointing a replica firearm at the victim, the teens allegedly asked him for his shoes, iPhone and money before fleeing the scene, Boston Police said.
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“I was terrified,” the victim, whose identity was not released by police, recalled to Boston news outlet WCVB. “I was thinking like, ‘What if I die right here on the spot, right here?’ “
“All he wanted to do is just shoot me right there if I didn’t give him my password,” the boy added. “I had to get them because I didn’t want to get shot.”
Officers quickly found two individuals who matched the teens’ descriptions and “successfully stopped” them, police said.
After detaining the suspects, officers took custody of the victim’s iPhone, along with a “black and red replica firearm” and two fake magazines, police said.
The two teens were charged with armed robbery and threat to commit a crime, according to Boston Police. Like the victim, their identities have not been publicized.
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Also speaking with WCVB, the victim’s mother, whose identity was not publicized, said she feels unsafe following the incident.
“It’s scary,” she told the outlet. “I mean, it’s very scary. We’re not safe.”
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In a statement provided to CBS News, Essex County District Attorney Kevin Hayden emphasized that the age of the victim makes this incident even more shocking than usual.
“Being robbed at gunpoint is a terrifying experience for anyone,” Hayden said. “But the age of the victim here, and the ages of the charged juveniles, adds an extra layer of shock and heartbreak.”
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“I commend this young boy and the adults present for providing the information that led to the arrest,” he added.
Hayden did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
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The Boston Red Sox brought back a familiar face Friday, acquiring left-handed pitcher James Paxton in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Could more old friends join Paxton in Boston before the MLB trade deadline?
The clock is ticking, with the deadline set for Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET, but there are several former Red Sox players being tossed around in trade rumors. And a few might even make sense for Boston, which is looking to add pieces, per chief baseball officer Craig Breslow.
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Let’s examine five ex-Red Sox who theoretically could make a triumphant return to Fenway Park to help with Boston’s 2024 playoff push.
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Justin Turner, IF/DH, Toronto Blue Jays Turner is 39 years old. And he hasn’t been great this season. So, maybe he’s washed. But what if he isn’t? Turner was an excellent fit in Boston last season, when he slashed .276/.345/.455 with 23 home runs and 96 RBIs. The Red Sox need a right-handed bat, and Turner checks that box in addition to being a respected clubhouse leader and an amazing postseason performer. This works, on and off the field.
Tommy Pham, OF, Chicago White Sox The Red Sox don’t necessarily need another corner outfielder. Pham also brings a volatile personality, though he seemingly didn’t ruffle any feathers during his brief stint with Boston in 2022. This all goes back to the Red Sox’s desire to add a right-handed hitter who can help with their struggles against left-handers. Pham entered the weekend with an .848 OPS in 61 plate appearances versus southpaws. His career mark sat at .834.
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Nathan Eovaldi, RHP, Texas Rangers There’s no guarantee the Rangers sell. They’re still in the playoff hunt — 3 1/2 games behind the division-leading Houston Astros in the AL West — and have reinforcements joining the fray. But if they do, every contender should have eyes for Eovaldi, a bulldog who typically performs best when the lights shine brightest. He’d be a perfect fit for the Red Sox, with whom he spent parts of five seasons (2018-22) and won a World Series title (2018).
Zack Littell, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays OK, now we’re digging a little deeper into the Boston bloodline. Littell only made two appearances for the Red Sox in 2023 before being designated for assignment and landing with the Rays. If you sneezed, you missed his Boston tenure. But the 28-year-old since has evolved into a serviceable starting pitcher, which could appeal to the Red Sox as they look to bolster their rotation depth, especially since the cost of acquisition shouldn’t be too high. Littell is under club control through next season, and the Rays are in sell mode.
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Jalen Beeks, LHP, Colorado Rockies Beeks walked so Littell could run, so to speak, thriving at times in the Tampa Bay pitching factory (in various roles) before landing in the high altitude of Denver. Like with Littell, Beeks’ time in Boston was brief. He made just two appearances with the Red Sox before (coincidentally) being traded to the Rays for Eovaldi in 2018. But the 31-year-old is a low-cost, lower-tier trade option, if nothing else, given that he’s a lefty who doesn’t walk a ton of guys and is capable of generating ground-ball outs.
The Boston College football program went through multiple changes this offseason, mostly on the coaching staff. In spite of the changes, the Eagles returned numerous players including 15 starters for the 2024 season.
At the wide receiver position, ten of the 12 players on the Eagles spring roster returned from last season, Lewis Bond, Jaedn Skeete, Dino Tomlin, Dante Reynolds, Nate Johnson, Reed Harris, Montrell Wade, Ismael Zamor, Jay Brunelle, and Luke McLaughlin.
The room also picked up two players out of the portal in Jerand Bradley (Texas Tech) and Jayden McGowan (Vanderbilt).
Bond is entering his fourth season with the Eagles. He had a breakout year in 2023 as he appeared in 13 games and made ten starts. During that time, he tallied 52 receptions for 646 yards and seven touchdowns. In his first two seasons in Chestnut Hill, he recorded a combined six receptions for 57 yards. Bond was a three-star running back recruit from the class of 2021 and ranked No. 1,156 nationally, No. 82 in running backs, and No. 29 in the state of Ill., according to 247Sports Composite.
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Nate Johnson
Sophomore | 5’9” 172 lbs | St. Petersburg, Fla.
Johnson is entering his second season with the Eagles. Last season, he appeared in eight games which included one start and tallied one reception for 11 yards and five rush attempts for 29 yards. Johnson was a three-star recruit from the class of 2023 and ranked No. 672 nationally, No. 41 in athletes, and No. 109 in the state of Fla., according to 247Sports Composite.
Jayden McGowan
Junior | 5’8” 180 lbs | Laurens, S.C.
McGowan is entering his first season with the Eagles after transferring from Vanderbilt during the offseason. He entered the portal on Dec. 4 and originally committed to South Carolina, but flipped to Boston College nine days later. During his two seasons with the Commodores, McGowan tallied 80 receptions for 836 yards and three touchdowns, as well as 32 rush attempts for 160 yards. McGowan was a three-star recruit from the class of 2022 and ranked No. 789 nationally, No. 116 in wide receivers, and No. 8 in the state of S.C., according to 247Sports Composite. He is rated as a three-star transfer.
Jaedn Skeete
Sophomore | 6’2” 191 lbs | Hyde Park, Mass.
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Skeete is entering his second season with the Eagles. Last year, he saw time in seven games which included four starts and tallied 12 receptions for 157 yards and a touchdown and averaged 13.1 yards per reception. Skeete is a product of Catholic Memorial High School in West Roxbury, Mass., and was a three-star recruit from the class of 2023, who ranked No. 592 nationally, No. 86 in wide receivers, and No. 7 in the state of Mass., according to 247Sports Composite.
Jerand Bradley
Redshirt Junior | 6’5” 222 lbs | Frisco, Texas
Bradley enters his first season with the Eagles after transferring from Texas Tech in between the end of the regular season and the Fenway Bowl. During his time with the Red Raiders, Bradley tallied 92 receptions for 1,274 yards and ten touchdowns. Bradley was a three-star recruit from the class of 2021 and ranked No. 420 nationally, No. 65 in wide receivers, and No. 60 in the state of Texas, according to 247Sports Composite. He is also rated as a three-star transfer.
Dante Reynolds
Redshirt Junior | 5’10” 185 lbs | Chicago, Ill.
Reynolds is entering his fourth seasons with the Eagles. During his time in Chestnut Hill, he has appeared in five games and caught two receptions for six yards, all in 2022. In 2023, he missed the entire season with an injury. Reynolds was a three-star recruit from the class of 2021 and ranked No. 1,404 nationally, No. 191 in wide receivers, and No. 31 in the state of Ill., according to 247Sports Composite.
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Reed Harris
Redshirt Freshman | 6’5” 229 lbs | Great Falls, Mont.
Harris is entering his second season with the Eagles. In 2023, he appeared in four games and made one reception for two yards in Boston College’s 48-22 loss to Virginia Tech on Nov. 11. Harris was a three-star recruit from the class of 2023 and ranked No. 693 nationally, No. 47 in athletes, and No. 1 in the state of Mont., according to 247Sports Composite.
Tomlin is entering his third season with the Eagles. The Maryland transfer came to The Heights in 2022. He has seen time in 20 games and tallied 34 receptions for 493 yards. While with the Terps, he caught three receptions for 19 yards. Tomlin, who is the son of Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, was a three-star recruit from the class of 2019 and ranked No. 1,168 nationally, No. 129 in wide receivers, and No. 23 in the state of Penn., according to 247Sports Composite.
Montrell Wade
Redshirt Freshman | 6’1” 185 lbs | Tyler, Texas
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Wade is entering his second season with the Eagles. In 2023, he did not make an appearance in a game and redshirted. Wade was a three-star recruit from the class of 2023 and ranked No. 733 nationally, No. 101 in wide receivers, and No. 112 in the state of Texas, according to 247Sports Composite. While in high school, Wade tallied 92 receptions for 1,719 yards and 20 touchdowns and also placed on the All-District First-Team.
Ismael Zamor
Redshirt Sophomore | 6’ 195 lbs | Everett, Mass.
Zamor is entering his third season at Chestnut Hill, however has yet to appear in a game for the Eagles. He redshirted his freshman season. Zamor was a three-star recruit from the class of 2022 and ranked No. 875 nationally, No. 129 in wide receivers, and No. 7 in the state of Mass., according to 247Sports Composite.
Luke McLaughlin
Redshirt Junior | 5’10” 181 lbs | Hudson, Ohio
McLaughlin has spent three seasons with the Eagles. During that time, he has appeared in seven games, primarily on special teams and has not recorded a reception. McLaughlin committed to Boston College as a preferred walk-on and made the depth chart in 2021, the same season he redshirted.
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Jay Brunelle
Graduate | 6’2” 213 lbs | Paxton, Mass.
Brunelle is entering his second season at Chestnut Hill. He has made past stops at Notre Dame where he started his collegiate career and Yale. He transferred to Boston College in the summer of 2023. His only playing time came with the Bulldogs where he appeared in seven games between two seasons and caught four receptions for 106 yards and one touchdown.