Trump Winning the Nobel Peace Prize Would Make It Another One of His Golf Trophies

Shortly after it was announced that Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was the winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, the Trump White House reacted with its usual grace. From White House Communications Director Steven Cheung:

President Trump will continue making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives. He has the heart of a humanitarian, and there will never be anyone like him who can move mountains with the sheer force of his will. The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace.

Never mind that Machado speaks favorably of Trump up to and including his use of extra-judicial killings in the Caribbean. Nope, in the MAGAverse, the Nobel Peace Prize belongs to him just like the White House and the Kennedy Center.

For his part, Trump claimed that Machado told him he deserved to be a Nobel Laureate:

The person who actually got the Nobel Prize called today, called me, and said, 'I'm accepting this in honor of you, because you really deserved it,'

It's a very nice thing to do. I didn't say, 'Then give it to me,' though I think she might have. She was very nice.

Given Machado's praise, Trump might be reasonably accurate in his recounting of the conversation unlike instances when he claims the leader of the Boy Scouts called to tell him that he delivered the greatest speech he ever heard. Stil, this tells me that Trump doesn't know or doesn't care to remember Machado's name.

So, does Trump deserve a Nobel Peace Prize for brokering the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas?

Well, not right now. 

For starters, let's not give out prizes before the hostages have actually been freed from captivity. Then there is the not so insignificant question of Hamas relinquishing power. I wouldn't bet on it if the Qataris get to open a military base in Idaho. Imagine if Hamas operatives get trained in the United States thanks to Trump. Let me put it another way. If Hamas does leave Gaza in a year from now, then I am willing to reassess my opinion on the merits of Trump getting the Nobel Peace Prize. But I'm not counting on it.

Mind you, I think President Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize back in 2009 for no discernible achievement cheapened its prestige. But I also think if the Nobel Committee were to bestow Trump with the honor while Hamas still wields power in Gaza, it would be even further diminished. The prize would probably sit along with the golf trophies for tournaments he won on golf courses that he owns.

Phillies Throw Away Season as Dodgers Advance to NLCS

What an awful way for the Philadelphia Phillies' season to end. 

With Game 4 of the NLDS tied 1-1 in the bottom of the 11th inning, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages hits a weak ball back to Phillies relief pitcher Orion Kerkering. However, instead of throwing the ball to first base to get the third out to extend the game to the 12th inning, Kerkering air mails the ball to home plate to allow the Dodgers to score the winning run to advance to the NLCS.

Most likely, it was just a moment of panic that could not have happened at a worse time. Unfortunately, Kerkering will live in Philly sports infamy for the rest of his life. 

Mind you, it's not the first time an error has cost the Phillies against the Dodgers in the post-season. Just ask Garry Maddox during the 1978 NLCS. But this one ended the game.

Unlike the 1978 Phillies however, there would be a World Series title in 1980. I sent a Facebook message to Randy Lerch who pitched for the Phillies during this era, and he feels sorry for the current edition of the team.

Indeed, there is a chance that this Phillies team will be broken up. The Phillies won the NL pennant in 2022 but fell to the Houston Astros in the World Series. They lost the NLCS to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2023 and now have been bounced in the NLDS for a second consecutive season after being ousted by the New York Mets a year ago. 

The Phillies have been a success but not successful enough. Free agents abound as Kyle Schwarber and his NL leading 56 HR and 132 RBI will likely go elsewhere as will catcher J.T. Realmuto and starting pitcher Ranger Suarez among others. There is also speculation that manager Rob Thomson who turned around the club in 2022 might get the heave-ho. Baseball, much like life, is unfair.

Meanwhile, the defending World Series champion Dodgers reach the NLCS for the fourth time this decade. The Dodgers will find out who they will face when the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers meet on Saturday night in Game 5 of their NLDS matchup. The Cubs have come back from an 0-2 deficit to force a deciding game after shutting out the Brewers 6-0 on HRs by Ian Happ, Kyle Tucker and Michael Busch.

At this point, anybody but the Dodgers. Even if it has been a quarter century since any team won consecutive World Series.

13 Pro-Hamas Hooligans Arrested After Attacking Police Near Boston Common

(Mark Stockwell/Boston Herald)

While some people spent October 7th mourning for the 1200 murdered by Hamas and praying for the hostages remaining in captivity, others took to the streets in praise of those who murdered innocents.

Feeling a bit of the ultra-violence, a group of pro-Hamas hooligans attacked police across the street from Boston Common resulting in 13 arrests. 

Most who were taken into custody have been charged with inciting a riot, disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. One Tufts University student was charged with assault and battery after breaking the nose of a police officer resulting in his bail being set at $10,000 much to the outrage of his comrades sporting keffiyehs. Three other police officers were also injured in the melee. 

Those who support Hamas are a public menace and every bit as predisposed towards violence as their heroes in Gaza. I fear if unchecked these hooligans might soon see fit to commit violence against Jewish institutions or just simply attack Jews to get their kicks. 

Nevertheless, I can only hope that the Trump Administration doesn't use this incident as well as the attacks on police during illegal drag racing in Back Bay & the South End last Saturday to send the military into Boston. It will only make a couple of unfortunate situations a lot worse. But as we well know, Trump governs in an arbitrary and capricious manner and we don't need that here in Boston.

Mike Greenwell Was an Essential Part of Morgan Magic with the 1988 Boston Red Sox

Former MLB player, NASCAR truck race driver and elected official Mike Greenwell passed away following a yearlong battle with medullary thyroid cancer at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He was 62.

Born in Kentucky but raised in Florida, Greenwell played his entire professional career in the Boston Red Sox organization. The Red Sox picked Greenwell out of high school in the 3rd round of the 1982 MLB Draft. Greenwell would make his MLB debut with the Red Sox as a September callup during the 1985 season making an immediate impression by blasting 4 HR in only 34 plate appearances.

In 1986, Greenwell would split his season between Boston and Triple-AAA Pawtucket. Despite limited playing time, Greenwell did appear in the post-season with the Red Sox in both the ALCS against the California Angels and in the World Series against the New York Mets.

Greenwell's first full season at the big-league level was in 1987 when he finished fourth in AL Rookie of the Year balloting batting .328 with 19 HR and 89 RBI. There was some stiff rookie competition that season as Greenwell finished behind Detroit Tigers catcher Matt Nokes, Kansas City Royals third baseman Kevin Seitzer and award winner Oakland Athletics slugger Mark McGwire.

Greenwell's breakthrough season came in 1988 when he finished second in AL MVP balloting behind Oakland Athletics outfielder Jose Canseco batting .325 with a career high 22 HR and 119 RBIs along with an AL All-Star Team selection. His .325 average was third in the AL behind Minnesota Twins outfielder Kirby Puckett and his Red Sox teammate Wade Boggs. Greenwell also finished third in the AL in RBI behind Puckett and Canseco. Years later, when Canseco confessed to using steroids, Greenwell called upon Canseco to give him the MVP trophy.

The 1988 Red Sox were a tail of two seasons. Still lingering from the effects of being one strike away from winning the World Series in 1986 only to never get the final out, the Red Sox would fire manager John McNamara at the All-Star Break. At the time, the Red Sox were 43-42 and in fourth place in the AL East 9 games back of the Detroit Tigers. 

The Red Sox named third base coach Joe Morgan (not to be confused with the late Hall of Fame second baseman) as the interim manager with the intent of having him only manage a few games until a permanent replacement could be found. Instead, the Red Sox won 19 of their next 20 games in what became known as Morgan Magic. Yet Greenwell was an essential part of his magic. During this hot streak, Greenwell hit .301 (22 for 73) with 3 HR and 17 RBI. 

Boston would win the AL East but would be swept by the Athletics in the ALCS. Greenwell would enjoy a productive 1989 season earning a second AL All-Star selection hitting .308 with 14 HR and 95 RBI. Greenwell would remain with the team through the 1996 season playing post-season ball with the AL East champion Red Sox again in 1990 and in 1995. Late in the 1996 season, Greenwell literally beat the Seattle Mariners single-handedly as he drove all 9 runs in a 9-8 Red Sox victory in a 10-inning game.

In 1269 career games over his 12 seasons with the Red Sox, Greenwell collected exactly 1400 hits for a lifetime batting average of .303 with 130 HR and 726 RBI. 

Greenwell would briefly play in Japan in 1997, but injuries had caught up with him. During the 2000s, Greenwell pursued truck driver racing on the NASCAR circuit. 

Greenwell would become successful businessman and land developer and in recent years turned his attention to politics serving as a member of the Lee County Commission. He was initially appointed to post by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis before being elected in his own right.

Greenwell was married for over 40 years and helped raised 2 sons, Bo and Garrett. Bo would play minor league ball with both the Cleveland Indians and later with the Red Sox organization.

As for the Red Sox, they would induct Greenwell into the team Hall of Fame in 2008.

At the risk of sounding cliche, Mike Greenwell died far too young. He was leading a good life and had more to give. Greenwell had more to offer than what he left on the diamond. R.I.P.

Blue Jays Eliminate Yankees to Advance to ALCS For First Time Since 2016

The Toronto Blue Jays beat the New York Yankees in Game 4 of the ALDS by a score of 5-2 to advance to the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2016.

Since 2016, the Jays reached the post-season in 2020, 2022 and 2023 but failed to get out of the ALWC round. This time around they got a first round bye and dispensed with the Yankees despite Aaron Judge who hitting .600 during the series with a critical HR during their lone win in Game 3. The problem is Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. made it count as he batted .529 with 3 HR and 9 RBI during the series.

Vlad, Jr. had a RBI single to begin the game but it was a pair of singles by outfielders Nathan Lukes and Myles Straw in the 7th inning which scored three runs which made the difference and made a 9th RBI single by Judge relatively harmless.

The Blue Jays will face the winner of the deciding Game 5 between the Detroit Tigers and the Seattle Mariners in their ALDS matchup on Friday. The ALCS will commence on Sunday in Toronto. The Blue Jays will vy for their first AL pennant since 1993 which is the year they last won a World Series title.

Many a Red Sox fan will be happy with this outcome. Maybe even happy enough to sing "OK, Blue Jays". I know I am.

Trump Demands Jail for Illinois Gov Pritzker & Chicago Mayor Johnson for "Failing to Protect ICE"

President Trump began today making this demand:

Trump is, of course, referring to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, both Democrats.

Of course, Trump has no authority to say who should and should not be in jail although it is very clear he would very much like that authority.

Furthermore, there is no crime in not protecting ICE. Although yet again there is no doubt that Trump believes it ought to be a crime. There is also the question of what constitutes protecting ICE. 

I suspect that Trump's idea of protecting ICE so they can raid apartment buildings and detain U.S. citizens and wantonly taunt and then shoot an unarmed woman for kicks. I wonder how many ICE agents are either January 6th insurrectionists or convicted rapists and murderers. 

Needless to say, both Johnson and Pritzker are within their rights to object to sending national guard troops into Illinois and most certainly to object to Texas sending their national guard to another state without its consent.

There is nothing going on in Chicago much less the rest of Illinois to warrant the actions taken by President Trump let alone issue a threat to arrest Mayor Johnson or Governor Pritzker. This is a war entirely of President Trump's making and Mayor Johnson and Governor Pritzker are within their rights to protect the people of Chicago and the people of Illinois from unconstitutional military aggression against their civilian population be they citizens or not.

In which case, I like Governor Pritzker's defiant response:

Come and get me.

My Thoughts on the 2nd Anniversary of October 7th

It was 2 years ago today that Hamas launched a terrorist attack against Israel which claimed the lives of 1200 people while taking 251 people into captivity. Of the 251 people taken hostage (mostly Jews), an estimated 75 have been killed with Hamas still holding the bodies of the dead. Approximately 20 living hostages remain.

As to the release of the hostages under the auspices of President Trump's proposed peace plan, I'll believe it when I see it. Unfortunately, I believe Hamas will run circles around him and his team giving them time to regroup and rearm with the objective of carrying out another October 7th against Israel.

The sad truth is if Hamas does launch another October 7th attack against Israel much of the world will be cheering them on. Indeed, today there was a rally in Philadelphia which included schoolteachers celebrating "Palestinian resistance fighters" and to "honor the martyrs." If these are the people who are responsible for shaping young minds, then G-d help us all. 

The awful truth is that on the day which saw the largest number of Jews slaughtered since the Holocaust, a searing hatred for Jews has been laid bare for all to see. At best, Israel and Hamas are viewed in morally equivalent terms. At worst, Jews are once again being shunned and singled out for derision. The worst is still to come.

It is for these reasons that I do not feel any sense of upliftment when I attended the Nova Exhibition here in Boston over the weekend nor when I went to the Wang Theatre a year ago today for "An Evening of Remembrance and Hope". There is plenty of remembrance but very little hope.

It is quite difficult to sustain hope when there are purportedly civilized people who believe Hamas is on "the right side of history." If one is inclined to believe that Hamas is on the right side of history, then one can only conclude that the same person believes there is no place for Israel in the world, nor for that matter a place for Jews in the world.

Of course, such sentiments have long existed. But those sentiments are sprinting from the margins to the mainstream. If that is the case, then it is only a matter of time before I and members of my family become directly affected by these sentiments. The consequence of these sentiments includes but are not limited to loss of employment, being stripped of civil rights and being subject to violence either by the state or with the state looking the other way resulting in injury or death. Such a development would not only be perilous for the future of Judaism but for the future of democracy.

I wish I could be more optimistic about our state of affairs. But there is now a concerted effort to delegitimize the ADL by both the left (AOC, Zohran Mamdani) and by the right (Elon Musk, Kash Patel). If successful, then such efforts will not stop with the ADL. Of course, violence has been visited upon Jews in D.C., in Boulder, Colorado and in Manchester, UK with numerous other incidents in between. 

For now, I live my day-to-day life which is a good day-to-day life. Yet I carry with me an impending sense of doom which could come crashing down at any moment and once it does it will be too late to do anything about it.