Ron & Jen’s Great Escape – March 29, 2023 – Ron St. Pierre and Jen Brien

by Ron St. Pierre & Jen Brien, contributing writers, commentary

UNFRIENDLY FENWAY

Forbes has released the value of Major League Baseball teams. To nobody’s surprise, the NY Yankees top the list with a value of $7.1 billion dollars. The Dodgers are second at $4.8 billion, followed by the Red Sox at $4.5 billion. Think about that, Sox fans, when the old town team rolls out of club Thursday afternoon, as analysts predict will finish at the bottom of the American League East division for the second straight year. On top of that, the Red Sox are the most expensive ticket in ALL of baseball, with an average price of $61 bucks.

During our radio show conversation with our friend, Father Brian Clary, which airs Saturday morning on Newsradio 920 HJJ and 104.7 FM at 7am (and just after that on the iHEART radio app and on Newsradiori.com) Jen and I realized we haven’t been to a Red Sox game at the hub since opening day 2005, when they raised the flag that beat the Curse. Wow! 18 years ago… but it sure is tough to beat that experience!

TIPPING TREND HITS THE TIPPING POINT

More companies are offering (if not flat out encouraging) tipping for their staff, but it’s leading to confusion resulting in Americans being LESS generous. About half of quick serve spots like McDonalds, Starbucks and Panera now give customers the green light to tip. You add that onto the usual places like full service restaurants, haircutters and delivery services and we’re tipped out1 Of course, inflation is leaving a lot less in our pockets to tip with too. It all started during the pandemic to help businesses stay afloat but now there’s debate about why customers are expected to tip when some are getting a full salary. George Carlin was right when he said you shouldn’t expect a tip just for moving laterally.

BIG EASTER SPENDING

Americans are expected to spend $24 billions on Easter. Hoe schnecke’s… that’s a lot of eggs! What tops the list? Food ($7.3 billion)… gifts $3.8 million… and candy $3.1 million! We always hoped those tall chocolate rabbits weren’t hollow. Oh well, always disappointed!

WE WEEP FOR THE FUTURE

Americans are prioritizing traditional values such as religion, patriotism and having kids, less, these days. A Wall Street Journal poll shows under 40% say patriotism is very important to them compared to 70% just 15 years ago. Money is the only thing that grew in importance since then.

FIDO’S DIET

You’d be hard pressed to find two bigger dog lovers than yours truly, Ron and Jen. So, we’re always challenging each other with how to put a smile…on their, and our…faces. SOO…should you feed your pooch veggies? Apparently, YES!  A University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna (as Jen pointed out their offices are next door to The American Egg Board) say zucchini, watermelon, cauliflower, broccoli, and cucumber are wonderfully healthy treats.

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Ron St. Pierre is a veteran broadcaster whose career has spanned over four decades. Ron has programmed, performed on and managed WHJJ, WPRO, WWRX, 790 The Score in Providence, as well as WBZT and WKGR in West Palm Beach and WABC in New York City. Ron also anchored sports on WPRI Ch 12 in Providence. He is a member of both the Rhode Island Radio and Television and the City of Pawtucket Halls of Fame. He was born and raised in Pawtucket.

Jen Brien has over 20 years of radio broadcast experience having hosted shows on WPRO and WHJJ with Ron as well as her own shows on WRKO and WBZ in Boston, WXTK on Cape Cod and WHAM in Rochester, New York. Jen was born and raised in Woonsocket and served six years in the Army MP Canine Unit.

Hazel, Ron’s dog, makes regular appearances.

“Ron and Jen’s Great Escape” podcast, a more lighthearted look at the events happening around us, can be found on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts, with new episodes premiering each Wednesday and listen to Ron and Jen’s Great Escape on NewsRadio 920 and 104-7 FM, Saturday morning, 7am!