Jason Varitek
Putting around
July 4, 2007 | Town Online | By Christopher Hurley | Photos by Ian Hurley
MEDFORD - You would think a hockey rink would be the last place you’d expect to find Jason Varitek, much less a rink turned miniature golf course, but that was the case at the DCR Flynn Rink in Medford, as teammates and fans were teeing off with the Red Sox catcher last week.
The Sox captain hosted his second annual Jason Varitek Celebrity Putt-Putt tournament, Thursday, June 28, at the DCR Flynn Rink in Medford. The event served as a fundraiser to benefit Children’s Hospital and the Celebrities for Charities Foundations.
Presented by TD Banknorth, the Celebrity Putt-Putt brought together over a dozen Boston-area sports stars, teaming them up with corporate sponsors and fans alike as they played on an 18-hole miniature golf course set up inside the cozy confines of the Flynn Rink in Medford.
“It gives us the opportunity to help give a little something back,” said Varitek. “I know a lot of people and friends who have gone through health issues with their children. I got reeled into Children’s Hospital that way by visiting, and ever since then I had an affiliation with a patient there, Jennifer Lynn Kennedy.”
“It’s all about lives and living life,” he added. “ Just a visit can change a child’s life and give them the support or the confidence, or sometimes just a smile to help them go on.”
The brainchild of CFC organizers Cleon Daskalakis, Erin Lynch and Varitek, the Celebrity Putt-Putt concept was ideal for the Sox back-stop, who was looking for a unique and fun way to spend a day with his teammates, while raising money for a worthy cause.
“It was something we came up with that allowed us to — because we’re asking people to come on an off day — maybe get their families involved and have a little fun with it,” said Varitek, who was traded to Boston along with Kevin Lowe by the Seattle Mariners in exchange for reliever Heathcliff Slocumb, July 31, 1997. “The families get a little more included that way.”
After enduring a tough nine-game road trip that included stops in Atlanta, San Diego and Seattle, the Sox flew back from the west coast arriving back Boston 3:30 a.m. Tuesday. Despite the brief respite, several of Varitek’s teammates still managed to join their captain on the course. Sox All-Stars such as Jonathan Paplebon, Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell arrived to the rink ready to tee off.
Sox players such as pitcher Mike Timlin, Alex Cora, Eric Hinske, Javier Lopez and Dustin Pedroia, along with former New England Patriot Max Lane, were given a warm welcome by the fans in the stands
According to Mike Timlin, the Sox participation in the event is the least they can do.
“We had a great time last year,” Timlin said. “But it’s not just about the good time that we had, it was all about supporting the charity. (Jason) has kids, I have kids, and you want your kids to grow up healthy and happy. If we can help somebody right now and help them make them happy then that’s what we’re going to do.”
Good sports
The boys of summer weren’t the only athletes on the block this day. Boston Bruin legend and NHL Hall of Fame defenseman Ray Bourque was also on hand for his second consecutive year.
Although the Norris Trophy winning defenseman is no stranger to area rinks, the sweltering conditions at Flynn Rink were reminiscent of a different arena.
“[It reminds me of] the old Boston Garden, playing the finals in triple overtime,” said Bourque. “It might have been almost as hot. I haven’t even been inside the boards yet.”
For Bourque, giving back to the community has become second nature since arriving in Boston during his rookie year in 1979.
“I think it’s great,” said Bourque. “We support our different events and that’s what makes this town so special, guys giving back and other athletes getting involved and making great events and the fans really supporting it. It really makes it a special town. People are passionate about their sports, not only the fans but also the players that play it. I know for me, I love watching the other teams and I cheer for the home team and wish them well. I’d love to see everybody win championships in this town. We’ve got a couple teams that have really raised the bar in that department and a couple other teams trying to get there.”
Joining Bourque was Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas. The hockey stars were joined by another former Bruin and BC College star Bob Sweeney, as well as two-time Stanley Cup champion Scott Young of Clinton.
Medford resident and current New York Islander Shawn Bates also made an appearance at the Flynn Rink.
“We really didn’t come here that often,” said Bates, who skated with the Medford High Mustangs before skating for BU and eventually turning pro. “We played more or less at LoConte, maybe every once in a while we’d have a practice here. I don’t think it was up and running when I was playing. My buddy works for the Boston Herald, he asked me to join his foursome and obviously it was for a great cause, so I might as well come out and show some support.”
The newly constructed golf course presented challenges for celebrities and amateurs alike.
“This is a tough course, you can’t read the greens very well but you do what you can,” said Timlin.
“We have quite a few really good golfers [on the Red Sox]. Wakefield probably is the best American golfer and Dice-K is probably the best Japanese golfer, so we have a good diversification.”
Regarded as an excellent golfer during his playing days, Bourque was also tested.
“The games okay, but it’s like they say, you just rent it you don’t own it,” Bourque said. “You just never know regardless of how you played the day before what’s going to come out the next day.”
For a good cause
Prior to tee time, Varitek took center stage and introduced another MVP, Brady O’Donnell of Newburyport. The 11-year old was inflicted with linear nevus sebaceous sequence, a rare disease which consisted of a brain abnormality, being blind in one eye and having precancerous birthmarks. Thanks to the care he received at Children’s Hospital Boston, the youngster was able to enjoy the days festivities on the course.
“I truly admire athletes like Jason Varitek who choose to spend what little free time they do have helping and visiting children like my son,” said Carrie O’Donnell, Brady’s mother. “We are lucky to live in an area where respectful organizations like Celebrities for Charity have people who work hard on the to make life easier for so many people. By attending this event and events like it, you are the reason my family had access to the best care in the world. Your generosity will ensure that children who need treatment and research will get the best care right here in Boston.”
Children’s Hospital Boston is the nation’s leading pediatric medical center, the largest provider of health care to Massachusetts’s children and the primary pediatric teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. Children’s houses the world's largest research enterprise based at a pediatric medical center, where its discoveries benefit both children and adults.
Following the tournament, a post-game reception was held inside the rink including a silent auction, where participants had the opportunity to bid on one-of-a-kind sports memorabilia, including signed baseball bats, footballs and hockey jerseys.
But the real winner in all of this was Children’s Hospital Boston, which raised thousands of dollars at the event.
According to Medford Mayor Michael J. McGlynn, the Jason Varitek Celebrity Putt-Putt is a prime example of New England athletes at their finest.
“Every year when they announce the putt-putt contest everybody gets excited,” said McGlynn. “Their happy, because it’s for charity, their happy because it’s in Medford and they have a chance to see a lot of the players and interact with them.”
“The course looks good, we’re going to raise a lot of money for the charity and it’s a great thing for the city too. We hope they keep coming back to Medford year after year, and I already have talked to them about offering other sites in Medford, so it stays here too.”
Varitek certainly appreciated the local hospitality.
“Thanks the DCR rink, Mayor Michael McGlynn and the City of Medford for making this happen for us,” Varitek said. “I’m really thankful that they opened up their city for us two years in a row.”
Judging by the reception the Sox catcher and his teammates received, they were more than welcome.