Talented play-by-play guy Dave O’Brien knew “The Greek of God of Walks” would have no trouble delivering iconic remarks from the first night he shared a NESN TV booth with devoted Bengals fan and legendary Red Sox player Kevin Youkilis.
“He looks up and says you can’t judge the wind looking at the flag,” purrs O’Brien with his casual demeanor. “We’re at Fenway.” “He’s looking at what’s next to it.”
Throughout O’Brien’s fifty years of journeying to baseball’s cathedral in all weather conditions, including severe Noreasters, that nugget had managed to elude a suburban Bostonian. However, it supports the idea that Kevin Youkilis’s passions are unwavering.
And that includes his devotion to the Bengals, which at 45 has withstood the rough and tumble of relocating to the West Coast, growing into The GOAT’s brother-in-law, pursuing a wide range of business endeavors, and becoming a father.
Wearing what turned out to be an extremely fortunate No. 13 at Sycamore High School, Youkilis was working again in his hometown as he and O’Brien settled into the Great American Ball Park booth to call Friday night’s opening game of the Red Sox-Reds weekend series.
Tom Brady’s sister married Youkilis a dozen years ago. “I’m still a diehard Bengals fan, but life takes you in a different direction once your kids reach a certain age,” Youkilis remarks. “While the family was watching the Patriots and Buccaneers, things kind of went awry. Indeed, it was difficult to balance the two. My wife and I attended the Super Bowl together. Regretfully, I was unable to witness the triumph I was so eager to witness. I hope to witness a Bengals Super Bowl in my lifetime.”
It is because of his father, Mike Youkilis, that Youkilis supports the Bengals. “He was Cincinnati all the way,” Kevin remarks, still finding it hard to comprehend that the 71-year-old man they called “Bear” passed away four years ago.
“My dad and his close friend Dr. Robert Osher attended the 1988 Super Bowl. Youkilis remarks, “I got to go to this one,” referring to Super Bowl LVI in 2021. “Everyone remarks on how much I resemble my father. Perhaps one of my non-identical-looking children need to attend a Super Bowl.”
So perhaps that’s the secret. A hybrid between a Bear and a Brady cheering on a quarterback who plays like Brady is a Youkilis. Nobody will be shocked to learn that Kevin Youkilis, who set or tied numerous ALCS records in 2007 despite missing two weeks of action due to a broken hand, adores Joe Burrow’s passion.
“I love Burrow a lot. “I believe he has the lineage,” Youkilis remarks. “There’s a competitive edge to him. It cannot be coached. It is not something you can learn. It’s not a habit that you pick up. It’s an item you possess.
“He has excellent ball-throwing and offensive running skills. Based on historical data and analytics, it appears that this window is rapidly closing.
Nor will it surprise anyone that the player who broke a record for the most consecutive error-free games and first base opportunities thinks defense wins championships. To become fit again, Youkilis is hoping for the current iteration of “The Cincinnati Kid,” left end Sam Hubbard.
“He went to Moeller, which is pretty cool—I grew up in Montgomery. Youkilis remarks of Kevin Huber, the all-time punter for the Bengals and graduate of the University of Cincinnati, “He’s on the track of (Kevin) Huber.” “Observing locally produced goods succeed and the guys who stick around is always entertaining. In Ohio, they are able to play and compete at that elite level.”
It was Youkilis. A gamble in the late 1990s by the baseball coach at the University of Cincinnati paid off, as he went on to become one of the best players in the majors the following ten years. According to O’Brien, in 2008, his hitting and fielding (do you want analytics? After the sixth inning, he hit.353, which very well would have won him MVP.
This week will thrill him. But it won’t have the same significance as it would have if it had taken place at his childhood’s old Riverfront Stadium. O’Brien can still see the grinder removing an edge as he turns to face him.
O’Brien says, “He puts you in the batter’s box.”
Now, however, he has a notebook by his side and two computers that are open.
“It’s kind of odd that the opposition is the team you rooted for your whole life, but they didn’t draft you,” Youkilis said. “My junior and senior years weren’t worth much to their scouting department, therefore they didn’t draft me. I expanded my love by adding “OX” and became a Red Sox.”
He’s making the announcement because of Bear. With his three kids, his coffee business, and his brewery, his son is rather busy. The Israeli national team, who earned a spot in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, has him as their hitting coach as well.
But two years ago, NESN made a call.
“I took it just because my dad did. Youkilis explains, “I did it by thinking back on the things he enjoyed in life. “Being a baseball broadcaster would have been his dream job. He was a huge baseball fan. to be in the front row when a game is called.
“It has gone well. It’s clearly not the same as the rush of playing the game. That presents a challenge. I do miss the companionship and the activity on the field. It’s impossible to duplicate in the booth. But broadcasting is the next best thing when you’re older and need a little bit better schedule in life.”
Nor is he the same man who used to get all fired up when watching the Bengals. Like that opening game in New England in 2010 that saw his future brother-in-law defeat Carson Palmer while Youkilis barked in the Oakland visitors’ locker room. He also doesn’t have time for the several fantasy leagues he had participated in.
“Over the years, I have become much calmer with the Bengals. Youkilis remarks, “I believe becoming older has helped me to become a little more relaxed.
You’ll get that from kids. His daughter recently received her college degree. He encourages his eleven- and nine-year-old sons to participate in numerous sports. Youk believes California is a big state for flag football. While they play hoops, they develop a deep affection for baseball.
Observing them compete is entertaining. They adore it. From birth, their DNA was in complete competition with that of their parents. It was their only option,” Youkilis claims. “I advise the lads to not emulate their father. Become superior to me.”
Beyond just advise, Kevin Youkilis offers them more. He hands the Bengals to them. precisely as Mike Youkilis had given them to him. It helps that they have some of the most well-known players in the game stacked against them.
“They undoubtedly support the Bengals. Youkilis explains, “They see dad cheering for the Bengals.” “I believe that the amazing thing about kids today is that they support athletes just as much as a team. They can watch far more because they have access to it. to view an abundance of athletes. They’ve recently developed an interest in both the sport and the athletes who are currently the league’s hottest commodities.
“Now that Tommy is retired, they are free to support whichever side Tommy plays for, which makes it different. The Bengals have adopted their new team in a way. It’s rather enjoyable.
Youkilis is well aware that, despite his support for the Bengals in the Super Bowl, he occasionally sounds like a supporter of the Red Sox prior to his role in helping them win the 2004 championship. He also reminds you that throughout the Cubs’ construction of the 2016 championship team, he served as a scout and consultant.
Youkilis passes it on, “Hopefully the mojo goes into the Bengals,” and ends with a “Who-Dey.”
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