News » more comfortable, Henley admitted. I feel good

BOSTON -- Manny Ramirez apologized Wednesday for his behaviour with the Boston Red Sox in his first public appearance since being hired as a minor league player-coach with the Chicago Cubs. His apology came before a pregame ceremony in which the team honoured its 2004 team that won Bostons first World Series championship since 1918. "I realize that I behaved bad in Boston," Ramirez said. "The fans were great. I also played great when I was here, but I realized I behaved bad. I apologize for that. Im a new man." He said he has been attending church for almost a year. During seven-plus seasons with Boston, Ramirez hit .312 with 274 homers and 868 RBIs before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008. While with Boston, he often jogged to first base and after fly balls, had a physical altercation with travelling secretary Jack McCormick and exhibited quirky behaviour that led to the phrase, "Manny being Manny." Ramirez was the last of more than 30 members of the 2004 team introduced before Bostons game against the Atlanta Braves. He was the MVP of that World Series sweep over St. Louis. He threw the ceremonial first pitch, but Johnny Damon cut it off, rolled to the ground and relayed the ball to catcher Jason Varitek behind the plate. It mimicked a play in 2004 when Damon fielded a ball off the centre-field wall and threw toward third base. But Ramirez inexplicably dove and cut it off rather than let it go through, allowing Baltimores David Newhan to get an inside-the-park homer. Ramirez received a warm reception as he entered the field through a door on the left field scoreboard in the Green Monster. He occasionally would use the door to go into the cramped area behind the scoreboard during pitching changes. On Wednesday night, the crowd chanted "Manny, Manny," when he was introduced and walked toward the infield. Current designated hitter David Ortiz is the only Red Sox player remaining from the 2004 team. "Now that I see David and the rest of the guys, I wish I could have done better," Ramirez said. "I wish it turned out better than it did." Now he hopes to make a good impression on players in the Cubs farm system. "Im looking forward to that," Ramirez said. "I can go over there and meet those kids and teach them what to do in the field and what not to do off the field. Its going to be a blast. Were going to have fun out there." Other players from the 2004 team who received loud ovations where pitchers Pedro Martinez and Curt Schilling and outfielder Kevin Millar. Schilling, who has skipped other Fenway Park events this season while being treated for cancer, was accompanied by his son Gehrig as they walked in together from left field. Keith Foulke, who was on the mound for the final out of the 2004 World Series, carried the championship trophy as he made his way to the infield. "You work your entire career and you always dream of being on top for at least once," Foulke said before Wednesdays game. "Were honoured to be a part of something that, unfortunately, had been set up by a lot of failure. Were proud to be a part of it, Ill tell you that." Ramirez appeared with a haircut in which the sides of his head were shaved, leaving hair only on top. "Its Manny," Foulke said, with a laugh. Kris Versteeg Jersey . -- Aaron Rodgers looked fine on the practice field Thursday. Morgan Rielly Jersey . The first baseman hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning to lead the Mets to a thrilling come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. http://www.officialmapleleafspro.com/Johnny-bower-maple-leafs-jersey/ . After losing Brett Cecil to groin tightness on Friday, the Blue Jays watched as R. Dave Keon Jersey . Fabio Fognini pulled off a surprise 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 victory over two-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray to level the best-of-five quarterfinal at 2-2 before Andreas Seppi defeated James Ward 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in the decisive match. Lanny McDonald Jersey . He still wanted out. "It just seemed like the direction they were going didnt fit what I thought my career was going to be," Kesler said. "At the end of the day I want to win a championship and I want to win it now, and four years is a little too long for me.Maui, HI (SportsNetwork.com) - Russell Henley fired an 8-under 65 on Friday as he grabbed a 1-stroke lead after the opening round of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. Henley won The Honda Classic in 2014 to earn his spot in the winners-only field. He birdied five of the first seven holes and carded eight birdies in a bogey-free round on the Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort. The 25-year-old played this event last year after winning the 2013 Sony Open in Hawaii. Henley failed to break 70 and he finished in 27th place last year. Sang-Moon Bae is one stroke back at minus-7. Jimmy Walker, a three-time winner last season, carded a 6-under 67. He was joined in third place by Patrick Reed, Scott Stallings, Ben Martin and Robert Streb, who sits atop the FedExCup points list. Defending champion Zach Johnson opened with a 5-under 68. He shares eighth place with world No. 11 Matt Kuchar, John Senden and Chris Kirk. J.B. Holmes, Steven Bowditch, Kevin Streelman, Matt Jones, Brendon Todd and Nick Taylor are one stroke back at minus-4. Henley poured in a 21-footer for birdie on the first and made his second birdie at the third. After a par on the fourth, Henley rolled in back-to-back 5-foot birdie putts at five and six. At the seventh, Henley converted a 32-foot birdie effort to move to 5-under and within two of the lead. He ran off four straight pars from the eighth before he poured in a 26-foot birdie putt on the 12th. Henley parred his next three, including the 15th, where he made a 12-footer for par after losing his second shot in the trees left of the fairway. I was prepared after tthat shot for whatever score I was going to make, and I knew I was just going to keep trucking, said Henley of his second shot at 15.dddddddddddd After a trio of pars, Henley grabbed a piece of the lead with a 22-foot birdie putt on No. 16. Henley reached the green in two at the par-5 18th and 2-putted for a closing birdie, which gave him the lead. We had a good wind today and the course is firming up. My second year here, I feel a lot more comfortable, Henley admitted. I feel good (on these greens). I like Bermuda grass. Both my wins have come on Bermuda grass. Seventeen and 18, I hit four perfect shots coming in. Bae also carded his first birdie of the day at the second. He kicked off a hot stretch of golf with a 19-foot birdie effort at the fourth. Bae followed with a 2-putt birdie at the par-5 fifth. The reigning Frys.com Open champion birdied three straight from the fifth, all from 15 to 19 feet out, to make it five in a row. That gave Bae a brief 4-shot lead at minus-6. Around the turn, Bae stumbled to a bogey at the 11th. He atoned for that mistake with a short birdie on No. 14. Bae made it two in a row as he dropped in a 10-foot birdie putt at 15 to get to 7-under. He closed his round with three straight birdies. I started really, really good on the front nine. I made a lot of putts. It was a pretty easy nine (holes), Bae said. NOTES: Henley has the first-round lead for the first time in his career ... Kuchar needed just 10 putts on the front nine, and he finished the round with 26 putts ... Johnson opened with a 67 last year when he beat Jordan Spieth by a single stroke. ' ' '