Day 35 without sports ðŸ˜: Honoring Jackie Robinson and the Boston Marathon bombing victims
This is our (expletive) city.
David Ortiz yelled those words on April 20, 2013, five days after a pair of bombs exploded near the finish line of the 117th Boston Marathon, killing three and injuring hundreds.
One of the world's most prestigious races had turned into a nightmare, and Wednesday marks the seventh anniversary of those bombings. Boston, and the country, needed to heal. Ortiz's speech, complete with his flawless insertion of profanity, began that process. Playing a baseball game that afternoon nudged it along even further.
When the Boston Red Sox captured the World Series at home, the city received a deserving celebration.
Wednesday also marks 73rd anniversary of Jackie Robinson playing his first game for the Brooklyn Dodgers, breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball.
Robinson's story is often oversimplified and romanticized. Him playing in one game didn't solve race relations in the sport. There's still much to be accomplished on the diversity front in MLB. But that doesn't diminish the courage behind Robinson's actions, nor the impact he made.
Sports are a salve in the toughest of times. Sports can also help point the world in the direction of progress and unite a people.
This upcoming Monday should be "Marathon Monday" in Boston, Patriots Day, the third Monday in April. The race is postponed until Sept. 14, and the hope is that it will go on, just like the 123 Boston Marathons that preceded it.
Not having sports to accompany us through this period of uncertainty feels wrong. But once they return, the healing will come all the easier.
Sports video of the day
To honor Robinson, who pulled of a legendary steal of home in the 1955 World Series, here's a highlight reel of MLB players stealing home.
Story time! Here are some of our best
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Sports on TV today
NFL: Aaron Rodgers and Sam Darnold duel in a late-season showdown at MetLife Stadium, as the Green Bay Packers defeat the New York Jets in overtime. (4 p.m., NFL Network).
Swimming: Michael Phelps swims to six medals (five gold, one silver) at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Jainero (9 p.m., NBC Sports).
NBA: Kobe Bryant leads the Los Angeles Lakers past the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
This day in sports history: April 15
1947: Jackie Robinson becomes the first black player in MLB history, opening the door for other minorities to join the league.
1958: The San Francisco Giants defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first MLB game played in California.
1979: Fuzzy Zoeller wins his only Masters.
2019: The Los Angeles Clippers make come back from down 31 points against the powerhouse Golden State Warriors for a 135-131 win in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
Games we're missing
Today should have been the final day of the NBA season, with the playoffs beginning Saturday. The final night of regular-season matchups were:
- Charlotte Hornets at Philadelphia 76ers
- New York Knicks at Minnesota Timberwolves
- Cleveland Cavaliers at Atlanta Hawks
- New Orleans Pelicans at San Antonio Spurs
- Oklahoma City Thunder at Dallas Mavericks
- Milwaukee Bucks at Brooklyn Nets
- Memphis Grizzlies at Houston Rockets
- Toronto Raptors at Orlando Magic
- Indiana Pacers at Washington Wizards
- Chicago Bulls at Boston Celtics
- Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix Suns
- Golden State Warriors at Sacramento Kings
- Los Angeles Clippers at Portland Trail Blazers
MLB
- Detroit Tigers at Cleveland Indians
- Chicago Cubs at Baltimore Orioles
- San Francisco Giants at Cincinnati Reds
- Los Angeles Angels at Miami Marlins
- Minnesota Twins at Toronto Blue Jays
- Atlanta Braves at New York Mets
- Houston Astros at Tampa Bay Rays
- Philadelphia Phillies at Milwaukee Brewers
- Chicago White Sox at Kansas City Royals
- New York Yankees at Texas Rangers
- Pittsburgh Pirates at Arizona D'Backs
- Boston Red Sox at Oakland Athletics
- St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles Dodgers
- Colorado Rockies at San Diego Padres
MLS
- DC United v. Toronto FC
- Houston Dynamo v. Minnesota United
- Colorado Rapids v. San Jose Earthquakes
Follow Paste BN Sports' Chris Bumbaca on Twitter @BOOMbaca.