Dear Parishioners:

Last week the long-time Providence Journal columnist Bill Reynolds died. He was a great sports writer. His basketball coverage, especially local high school basketball, was exceptional. His many books about basketball were equally as good. I always looked forward to his weekly Saturday column "For What It's Worth." It was humorous, insightful, and always contained a quiz and a notable quote. So in honor of this outstanding columnist, here's my feeble attempt at "For What It Worth."

•Who would have thought the Red Sox are only two games behind in the Wild Card?

•Major League Baseball games are much quicker now, thanks to the new pitch clock. However, I miss those five-hour games between the Red Sox and the Yankees!

•Before you set a clock on Sunday Mass, remember the Mass perpetuates the Paschal Mystery in time; it follows that it stands outside of time. So no "Pitch Clock" for Holy Mass!

•Nobody complained last weekend that it was too cold at Mass.

• Air-conditioned movie theaters are usually very cool places in the summer. I haven't seen a movie at a movie theatre since before the Pandemic.

•Fr. Mahoney tells me that the theaters now have big comfy chairs and serve cocktails too! I don't remember that!

•These movies might bring me back: Sound of Freedom, The Miracle Club, Oppenheimer, and coming this fall, Napolean!

• There's nothing like a great epic on the big screen! Jaws was one of the best summer movies! Speaking of Jaws, several Portuguese Man of War were spotted at R.I. beaches!

•They are named after the sailing warship, the Portuguese Man of War! Maybe they can prevent access to private beaches!

•Quiz of the Week: Who was the last pitcher to record more than 20 complete games in a season for the Red Sox?

•Did you know smoking cigars on R.I. beaches is prohibited? But I'm sure you can smoke marijuana. They seem to smoke it everywhere else now that it's legalized!

•I haven't gone to the beach yet! I hear the water is in the 70s!!!

•Fr. Mahoney is an avid soccer fan, he hasn't converted me yet, but Messi in Miami seems interesting, and I may even watch a game!

•Pray for our FAS Sisters on retreat!

•Congrats to Carlos Alcaraz on his first Wimbledon title. It was an amazing five-hour tennis match against Novak Djokovic. I think we'll see more of Alcaraz.

•The Providence Journal isn't what it used to be! Not much of paper anymore. Where have you gone, John Hanlon, Jack Major, Jack White, and John Hackett?

•The Journal regularly ran anti-Catholic editorials during the 19th Century. Some things don't change, Bunky! Last week's Sunday Journal ran a column full of the old anti-Catholic bigotry of the 19th Century. Famed historian Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. called anti‐Catholicism “the deepest bias in the history of the American people.”

•I often find those who advocate for tolerance don't usually have much tolerance for Catholics. From his vantage point atop the statehouse, the Independent Man might agree.

Phil Rivers with his wife and nine children

•LINE OF THE WEEK: Retired NFL Quarterback Phil Rivers, now a high school football coach at St. Michael Catholic H.S. in Fairhope, Alabama, has nine children, seven girls, and two boys. His wife Tiffany is expecting their tenth child. The new addition is breaking a family tradition. Tiffany is one of nine, as is her own father. Rivers said: "We thought we would be the third generation of nine, but we decided to go double-digits — or I should say we didn't decide. God decided."

•As the ninth of nine children myself, I always thought eight wasn't enough, but nine!

•Soon, we'll be watching NFL football games on Sundays again! The Chiefs are the current favorite to win the NFL Super Bowl. What are the odds the Pats will even make the playoffs?

•What are the odds that our new Church doors will be installed before the football season begins!?

•Quiz answer: El Tiante, Louis Tiant with 25 in 1974! He makes a fine cigar now, aptly called El Tiante! In the 70s, I remember a picture of him smoking a cigar in the shower after a Sox game. I bet he smokes them on the beach too!

Well, that's for what it's worth this week at OLM, with due thanks and deep respect to the late, great Bill Reynolds. Rest in Peace, Bill. Do good. Be well. God Bless. Go Sox!

For What It's Worth, An Appreciation