Q&A with Alan Greenwood, Sports Editor, Nashua Telegraph, Part 3 of 3
Alan Greenwood has been covering the Red Sox for 15 years for the Nashua Telegraph and has been a member of the Baseball Writers Association of America for 13 years, serving as the Secretary/Treasurer for the Boston Chapter since 2001. He grew up in Exeter, NH, graduated from The University of New Hampshire in 1981, worked at Foster’s Daily Democrat in Dover, NH for three years before coming to The Telegraph, where he became the Weekend Sports Editor in 1986 and the Sports Editor in 1994. Over the years he has covered the Patriots, Celtics and Bruins as well as the Red Sox.
1. Do you remember where you were when the Red Sox won the World Series, and where you were when they blew it so many times before?
The first season I can vividly recall is 1967, when I was 9 years old and ended up convinced that the Red Sox should win the pennant every year. After a few years, I figured out it wasn’t so easy.
In 1978 I was a sophomore at UNH, watching Bucky Dent’s home run float into the screen while at a bar in Durham. In 1986 I was working on the desk at the Telegraph, putting out the Sunday sports section. And in 2003 I was in the auxiliary press box at Yankee Stadium, turning to a colleague when Martinez went out for the eight inning and saying, “They’re going to regret this.”
In 2004, I was covering the game at Busch Stadium.
2. How is the Japanese media following Matsuzaka going to affect your every-day fan?
The influx of Japanese media and fans is simply turning what was a circus into a circus on steroids. The insanity that now surrounds everything connected to the Red Sox will only grow exponentially.
3. Where is the best place to be, aside from in your seat, at Fenway? And when are you most likely to be found there?
My favorite bar near Fenway is the Boston Beer Works as I love their food, but have lots of fond memories of the Cask.
I have grown to despise Sweet Caroline. I wrote a column about this a couple of years ago and actually got hate mail from Neil Diamond fans. How bizarre is that - hate mail from Neil Diamond fans?
4. Care to make any bold predictions about the season that will make you a genius when they come true?
This may not sound like a bold prediction, but considering the history, I think it qualifies: David Ortiz will have such a potent season that he’ll actually win the American League MVP Award without so much as a word of debate.
Stumble it!