OBF: Kraft’s master class on accountability
It’s time to Make Accountability Great Again.
That version of MAGA is on a roll in 2025.
Facebook is deleting its previous regime of censorship first, questions later.
Gov. Maura Healey took a bite of the alternative MAGA apple by ordering inspections of the state’s migrant shelters after one of the Bay State’s cherished newcomers was found to have a $1 million stash of cocaine and fentanyl, along with an AR-15.
In Foxboro, Robert Kraft ushered this MAGA era by taking full blame for the Je-Rod Rust Error.
“This whole situation is on me. I feel terrible for Jerod because I put him in an untenable situation,” Kraft said Monday.
Six words – “this whole situation is on me” – flipped the entire narrative on Patriots ownership.
A year ago, Kraft went “Red Wedding” on Bill Belichick. Gone was the coach who had usurped so much of the glory which Kraft believed he was due. Kraft Productions LLC was putting the finishing touches on a 10-part documentary/infomercial hailing Kraft’s stewardship of the Patriots franchise.
“The Dynasty” did its best Leni Riefenstahl/John Ford to deliver an epic tale of a wise, benevolent and astute Kraft overseeing and driving the Patriots’ quarter-century of dominance. Tom Brady was at best a supporting player. Belichick was an obstacle.
Alone at the podium Monday, Kraft offered a brief statement and then took questions about how and why the Patriots continue to bottom out like Wile E. Coyote bouncing down a desert cliff.
It’s never too late to do the right thing. Kraft owns the Patriots. He now owns the Patriots.
The challenge for Robert and Jonathan Kraft, and Robyn Glaser, is two-fold. One, avoid the mistakes they made a year ago. And two, take corrective and perhaps radical action in making sure the damage caused is not only reversed, but repaired.
Kraft offered a PR master class. Stand up. Speak truth. Answer questions. Hide from no one.
Now, we can judge the Patriots for successes and failures on the field without having to question ownership’s attentiveness.
Kraft won’t be fully off the hook until some of that “cash to burn” is lit aflame in free agency. And money from another pile spent on an authentic head coach and a GM-type whose best qualification isn’t his last name.
The MAGA movement must spread to Yawkey Way.
“Accountability” is still a four-letter word when it comes to the Red Sox.
John Henry has conflated arrogance and cowardice in his complete disregard for the baseball entity of Fenway Sports Group.
The biggest news in the Pizzuti-Henry household this week was the launch of the TGL Tuesday night. That’s the glorified video golf league owned in part by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. FSG’s home team, in case you missed it, is called Boston Common Golf. The mighty Bullfrogs include McIlroy on their four-player roster.
McIlroy earned $17.3 million between the PGA Tour, Masters, and U.S. Open this past season. That places him 5th in terms of Red Sox payroll. Perhaps Henry has factored the winnings of McIlroy and his Boston Common Golf teammates in determining the Red Sox payroll in relation to the Competitive Balance Tax?
The Red Sox teased the suckers and losers among their fan base by offering Juan Soto $700 million in Monopoly Money. Some went so far as to claim a deal with Soto was done. Similar counterfeit offers were made to Max Fried and Corbin Burnes. The fan base was subsequently ginned up each time.
Amid all of this, the team let Tyler O’Neill and his 31 home runs from the right side of the plate walk to Baltimore without an offer.
The latest Red Sox free-agency flim-flam concerns Alex Bregman. The 2-time All-Star Bregman would shore up the left side of Boston’s infield. But he’ll cost around $30 million per year. We’re now being told that the Red Sox are holding off on Bregman because Vladimir Guerrero Jr. wants out of Toronto and could play in Boston – come 2026.
Here’s hoping I am wrong.
Saturday, the Red Sox host Fenway Fest at both America’s Most Beloved Ballpark and the Pizzuti-Henry Music Hall across the street. In addition to the potential of autographs and tours of Fenway Park, the top draw as of now is – and we are not kidding here – a panel with Greg Whiteley. Greg is not the Red Sox new right-handed power hitter. Rather, he directed the upcoming Red Sox 2024 Netflix documentary “Nine Men Out.”
Kidding. It’s called “The Clubhouse.” But we have been promised a sneak peek of the show.
If the Red Sox cared about their fans, they would follow Kraft’s lead. Thaw out Henry. Wheel him on stage at MGM Music Hall. And have him address the masses.
Henry probably lacks the cojones or interest in taking unscripted questions – even from State Run Media.
But that wouldn’t hurt, either.
If the fans boo, shame on them. One cannot demand accountability and then not allow it to happen.
Henry’s physical presence in the same room with those who pay their hard-earned money for Red Sox tickets and NESN+ is a desperately needed baby step toward some accountability for this franchise that has patented mediocrity.
This is one MAGA movement even a good Democrat like Henry can get behind.
Bill Speros (@BillSperos and @RealOBF on X) can be reached at bsperos1@gmail.com