Welcome to Monday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.
MONDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
MLB: Red Sox at Orioles, 7:05 p.m. (NESN; WEEI-FM)
NFL: Eagles at Falcons, 7:10 p.m. (ESPN)
NFL: Vikings at 49ers, 10:20 p.m. (ESPN)
Soccer: Premier League, Newcastle at West Ham, 3 p.m. (NBCSN)
AROUND THE WEB:
— Not only did the Patriots start the season with a solid win over the rival Steelers, New England had a Godfather-esque revenge day Sunday, as two key rivals who played roles in the Deflategate saga saw their seasons open with losses and a key injury.
The Colts were stifled by the Bills in suffering a 27-14 upset loss in Buffalo. And the Ravens lost a 19-13 decision to the Broncos — and lost longtime Patriots antagonist Terrell Suggs for the season in the process.
Suggs, known for his taunts of Tom Brady and the Patriots organization, tore his left Achilles while pressuring Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning in the fourth quarter. The 32-year-old was carted to the locker room, and the club announced the injury shortly after the game.
“It’s huge,” Ravens pass rusher Elvis Dumervil said. “You can never replace a Terrell Suggs.”
A six-time Pro Bowler and the 2011 AFC Defensive Player of the Year, Suggs tore his Achilles tendon in the offseason before the 2012 campaign. He missed the first half of the season but returned to help Baltimore knock off the Patriots in the AFC championship game and go on to win the Super Bowl.
According to am email that was part of evidence in Tom Brady‘s Deflategate case, the Colts alerted the NFL to the Patriots’ alleged deflation of footballs prior to last season’s AFC championship game after receiving an email from a Ravens staffer warning them. Ravens coach John Harbaugh and Colts coach Chuck Pagano have denied any involvement.
— Sunday’s Bills victory was tough to enjoy for many Bills fans who still were trying to deal with the apparent suicide of a man who was camping out in an RV parking lot across the street from Ralph Wilson Stadium late Saturday night.
While other campers and tailgaters partied and watched fireworks around 10:20 p.m. Saturday, a man among a group of tailgaters reportedly pulled out a gun and shot himself.
Orchard Park police said the middle-aged Western New York man died at the scene despite attempts to revive him.
“It was pretty quiet and somber after that,” Vermont resident Chris Hurley, a Bills season ticket holder who was getting ready to go to bed in a nearby camper, told The Buffalo News.
Added Connecticut resident and fellow camper Shawn Hanson, who was asleep at the time of the accident: “It’s like a pit in your stomach.”
Meanwhile, during Sunday’s Broncos-Ravens game in Denver, a 42-year-old man fell over a railing about 15 feet and was transported the the hospital with serious injuries.
Police said the fall appears to have been an accident.
— Tributes and remembrances poured in Sunday following the unexpected death of three-time NBA MVP Moses Malone, who passed away while in Norfolk, Virginia, for a charity golf tournament.
Malone, a Hall of Famer who still ranks in the top 10 in NBA career scoring and rebounding, was in Springfield on Friday for the Hall enshrinement ceremonies.
He was discovered in his Norfolk hotel room Sunday morning after failing to meet up with some other former players.
“The man I called ‘Dad’ passed today,” former 76ers teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Charles Barkley said. “Words can’t explain my sadness. I will never know why a Hall of Famer took a fat, lazy kid from Auburn and treated him like a son and got him in shape and made him a player.
“Every time I saw him I called him ‘Dad.’ I hope he knew how much I appreciated and loved him.”
Malone, a powerhouse 6-foor-10 center, clashed with the Celtics as a member of the Rockets in the 1981 NBA Finals (won by Boston), then after he joined the Sixers. He led Philadelphia to the 1983 title, famously predicting sweeps in all postseason series by saying “Fo’, Fo’, Fo’ ” when asked how the playoffs would go. The 76ers ended up losing just one postseason game, and Malone was named Finals MVP after Philly’s sweep of the Lakers.
“With three MVPs and an NBA championship, he was among the most dominant centers ever to play the game and one of the best players in the history of the NBA and the ABA,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said.
A 12-time NBA All-Star who played for eight NBA teams, Malone started his pro career in 1974 with the ABA’s Utah Stars, who drafted him in the first round out of high school in Petersburg, Virginia. In 21 pro seasons he averaged 20.3 points and 12.3 rebounds per game. He led the league in rebounds per game for five straight seasons in the early 1980s, and he is the NBA’s career leader in offensive rebounds (6,731).
ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On Sept. 14, 2002, which Red Sox pitcher recorded his 20th victory of the season in a 6-4 victory over the Orioles, making him the first pitcher to have 20 saves and then 20 wins in consecutive seasons?
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “[No.] 8 is special. He showed the country what he can be. We have a lot to look forward to.” — Titans cornerback Coty Sensabaugh, on rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota, the second overall pick in the NFL draft, who threw four touchdown passes to lead his team to a 42-14 rout of the Buccaneers and top pick James Winston on Sunday
STAT OF THE DAY: 1 — Hits allowed by Red Sox starter Rich Hill in seven shutout innings Sunday against the Rays, in Hill’s first start since 2009
‘NET RESULTS (mobile users, check the website to see the videos): Dolphins cornerback Brice McCain makes a terrific one-handed interception in Miami’s win over Washington.
Josh Harrison hits a walkoff single to give the Pirates a win over the Brewers in 11 innings.
Cardinals right fielder Jason Heyward leaps over the wall to steal a home run from the Reds.
Blue Jays center fielder Kevin Pillar races back and makes a leaping catch against the Yankees.
Indians right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall makes a similarly impressive grab against the Tigers.
TRIVIA ANSWER: Derek Lowe
SOOTHING SOUNDS: The late Amy Winehouse was born on this day in 1983.
