Latest news with #MarkWalsh
New York Times
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Cardinals' Brendan Donovan emerges as a leader during transition season
The mania that comes ahead of your major-league debut can feel frantic, hectic and chaotic, to put it mildly. Players usually arrive on little sleep, having come from the minor leagues with minimal notice. They've often spent most of their travel time texting as many family members and friends as possible. Advertisement Upon arrival, it's a mad dash to meet the manager, teammates and training staff, followed by media availability and pregame routines. If a player is lucky, he'll have a few minutes to collect himself before first pitch. Often, big leaguers will describe their long-awaited debuts as whirlwinds and can't recall much about the day itself. That's where Brendan Donovan comes in. The St. Louis Cardinals infielder has established a tradition. On debut days, Donovan will present the call-up with a celebratory bottle of Ace of Spades gold champagne. The bottle is dated by equipment manager Mark Walsh and signed by every player on the active roster that day. It's not much — a memento acknowledging the milestone — but the sentiment behind the gesture carries considerable weight. The Cardinals were more than halfway through the 2023 season when this tradition began, but Donovan's season was over after elbow surgery in August. St. Louis was struggling through its worst season in over three decades. Donovan couldn't help on the field, but felt he could make an impact behind the scenes. 'I was trying to build a culture,' Donovan explained. 'How do I make people comfortable? How do I make them feel they belong?' Donovan began asking these questions nearly two years ago, and he hasn't stopped since. He does have some answers, and it shows in how he navigates a clubhouse where he's gained full respect. Throughout this transition year in St. Louis, no player has grown into more of a leadership role than Donovan. It has required him to far surpass his comfort zone, and he's had to learn a lot. There's an ease in how Donovan maneuvers through his daily routine, which has led teammates to gravitate toward his consistency. For how reliable Donovan has been on the diamond this year, his transformation outside of the white lines is most impressive. Talking about himself ranks very low on Donovan's list of preferred topics. The 28-year-old is eager to emphasize the play of others over his own. Part of that stems from his military background. Donovan was born in Würzburg, Germany, while his father, James (Jim), was stationed there with the U.S. Army. He spent his childhood moving around various U.S. states, including Virginia, Tennessee and Alabama. He learned discipline and adaptability from his father and his mother, Lisa, who held down the fort while Jim was on deployment. Advertisement Those traits helped propel Donovan's career. He has a simple philosophy when he arrives at the stadium each day: How can he solve a problem? 'How can I give the manager flexibility? How can I give competitive at-bats? How can I run the bases?' Donovan said. 'That's how I look at it: What can I do to try to help this team win on a daily basis?' His play certainly helps. The Cardinals (47-38) are fresh off a three-game sweep of the Cleveland Guardians and sit a season-best nine games over .500, firmly in the National League playoff hunt. Donovan has been instrumental in leading them. At the season's halfway mark, he's hitting .297 with a team-best .376 on-base percentage. His .793 OPS ranks second on the Cardinals to Alec Burleson's .804. Donovan has the defensive skills to play around the diamond, but he's been so solid at second base that the Cardinals are reluctant to move him to the outfield unless it's truly necessary. He's a unanimous choice around the clubhouse to represent the team at the All-Star Game. Donnie goes deep on the FIRST pitch of the game! — St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) June 28, 2025 But there is more to the game than producing, at least from Donovan's perspective. When the Cardinals announced their plans to reset in 2025, Donovan could have felt stuck in the middle. He was entering his fourth full season in the majors but still not experienced enough to be considered a veteran. As the organization shifted its focus to young and upcoming players, it would have been understandable if Donovan felt like he was on the outside looking in. Instead, he realized he had an opportunity to share his insight. 'That's what I took to this offseason, but that's what I've tried to do my whole career,' Donovan said. 'I didn't see it as anything different. We have some guys that are learning how to become themselves, learning about the game. Unfortunately, the best teacher of this game is failure. So I thought, 'How can I aid some of these players? How can I be a shoulder or an ear they can come to?' And I can listen and hopefully provide some guidance.' Advertisement It took some trial and error. Donovan is not a flashy personality. He prefers to lead by example. But that leadership style isn't what the clubhouse needed from him this season. The Cardinals needed young players to be accountable and lead the charge for the next wave of talent. Veteran players Willson Contreras and Nolan Arenado encouraged this dynamic, reasoning that if the focus is on the future, the future needs to step up. So Donovan took a few uncomfortable steps forward. 'I don't seek it,' he said. 'I don't want to be loud and obnoxious. I don't want to be that guy. But I think it's important for me to try to raise the level of play through preparation. I've seen it through former teammates. I've seen it with my parents, my military mom running a household while dad's on deployment. Being the same person every day, setting the example of working hard, no excuses. That's what I try to do. 'Where do I think I've grown in that? I think I've tried to invest more in people. I've tried to get to know them as a person to show that I genuinely do care about them, and that they can feel comfortable coming to me, speaking to me, knowing they can confide in me.' It can be as simple as a text message, a suggestion in the batting cages or a short conversation over a meal. In Thomas Saggese's case, it was an offer to break down some video. Saggese, a 23-year-old infielder who has bounced between Triple A and the majors, was in his first stint with the Cardinals this season when he saw Donovan make a break for the film room after the game. Curious, Saggese asked where he was going. An invitation followed. 'Come with me.' Donovan's rigorous routine isn't just for pregame. After most games, he heads straight to the Cardinals' video room to break down plays and swings with head video coordinator Chad Blair and first-base coach Stubby Clapp. With Saggese in tow, Donovan helped analyze specific moments, good and bad. Film clips ranged from solid defensive stops and balanced swings to questionable defensive routes and base-running gaffes. These film sessions allow Saggese to explain what he was thinking in real-time. When asked, Donovan shared what he would have done and how he might go about things differently. He detailed what he liked about the play and what he didn't. Advertisement Bouncing ideas off each other helps both players, Donovan explained. The goal isn't to get on players if they make a mistake. The goal is to teach through an open dialogue. 'I try to do things like him,' Saggese said, unable to contain a sheepish smile. '(Donovan) is someone you can really trust. He's pretty quiet, so you have to go up to him and talk to him. I've made that one of my priorities. … He's definitely a big part of this team.' For all the teaching he's been doing, Donovan is still evolving himself. He became a first-time father last year; his wife, Aly, and 1-year-old daughter, Viviane, accompany him to most home games and on many road trips. Donovan is far from a perfect player, but he takes exceptional pride in ensuring he's at his best every day. 'There are only a few things you can control in this game: your mentality, your preparation and your hustle,' Donovan said. 'I might get a little more nicks and bruises, but I enjoy playing hard.' Younger players aren't the only ones taking note. Earlier this month, Contreras applauded Donovan's defense at second base, his diligence and, most notably, his growth. 'You can see him working,' Contreras said. 'He's a professional on and off the field. It's really good to have a guy like him who goes to work and puts 100 percent effort in day in and day out. His energy and work ethic are contagious.' As the Cardinals continue to force their way into playoff conversations, heightened tensions loom. For many of these players, including Donovan, it would be the first time they have faced pressure of this nature. Donovan welcomes such scrutiny. As with his everyday play, he's not shying away from anything. The future core of this club will continue to be a focus. 'A player's dream is to be with one organization their whole career, and to win a lot and to bring a lot of success and a lot of joy to a fan base,' Donovan said. 'I would love to be a part of that.'
RTÉ News
20-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
First Division wrap: Leaders Dundalk held as Cobh Ramblers win to get closer
Late goals for both sides ensured a share of the spoils in a tense game at Oriel Park as Treaty United struck late to snatch a 1-1 draw against league leaders Dundalk. It looked as if the Lilywhites had laid claim to the three points with an 85th-minute strike from Harry Groome, only for it to be cancelled out in added-on time by Mark Walsh to earn the Shannonsiders a draw. Dundalk went close to scoring in the opening seconds of the game with a Daryl Horgan free-kick, which was met by Eoin Kenny at the back post, but the forward's header flashed wide. Treaty defender Richkov Boevi was inches from scoring in the 14th minute, with his goalbound header from a corner being cleared off the line by the outstretched Enda Minogue, who was forced to make a vital stop. Despite continued pressure, the Lilywhites failed to convert a series of chances as Treaty continued to look dangerous on the counterattack. Kenny once again had a clear sight on goal in the 30th minute but was unable to convert, while Lee Devitt struck the side-netting for the visitors moments later. Sean McHale sent his headed effort just over the bar for Dundalk in the 55th minute from a Daryl Horgan free as the goal continued to elude the home side in the opening period of the second half. McHale was then called into action to make an important block as Sullivan's strike from the edge of the area had to be deflected for a corner. The resulting set piece in the 60th minute saw Treaty almost squeeze the ball home, only for Aodh Dervin to make a vital intervention off the line. Dundalk looked certain to score from a breakaway attack from midfield with Eoin Kenny setting Leo Gahxa down the right, but the Dundalk winger's low effort whistled past the post. The home side would score late in the contest, with Harry Groome finding the net in the 85th minute. Treaty failed to clear their defensive lines from a Keith Ward corner, with the ball recycled on the left by Andy Paraschiv. He laid the ball to Groome with the Dundalk midfielder striking first time to rifle the ball to the back of the net, leaving Chambers flat-footed. The action was yet to be concluded with Treaty scoring in added time to snatch a point with captain Mark Walsh latching onto the ball in the Dundalk area and squeezing his effort past Minogue to grab a point for the away side. Elsewhere, Cobh Ramblers narrowed the gap at the top to just four points following a comprehensive 3-0 win at UCD. Barry Coffey's sixth-minute strike handed the visitors the perfect start against the Students at the UCD Bowl, and they doubled their lead in the tenth minute through Sam Bellis. Coffey was then on hand six minutes before the break to bag his brace and secure the three points for Ramblers. Bray Wanderers ' title ambitions took a major hit as they went down 2-1 to Kerry as they remain in third place, nine points off the top. Kennedy Amechi's opening-minute strike handed the hosts the early lead, and while Max Murphy levelled from the spot in the 52nd minute, Kerry would seal the victory through Abel Alabi's 87th-minute winner. Longford took the points with a slender victory in Wexford, with Emre Topcu's sixth-minute strike the difference between the two sides, while Athlone Town and Finn Harps prop up the table following their scoreless draw. Dundalk: Enda Minogue, Sean McHale, Aodh Dervin, Daryl Horgan, Harry Groome, Dean Ebbe (Keith Ward 76), Leo Gaxha, Luke Mulligan, Vincent Leonard, Eoin Kenny, Shane Tracey (Andy Paraschiv 68). Treaty United: Corey Chambers, Richkov Boevi, Lee Devitt, Colin Conroy (Stephen Healy 80), Yousef Maddy, Nikodem Kozlowski (Roy Lawlor 67), Evan O'Connor, Mark Walsh, Mark Murphy (Connor Willson 67), Eoin Martin, Karl O'Sullivan.
RNZ News
09-06-2025
- RNZ News
Elderly man fears police are 'framing him' over West Coast cold case killing
The body of David Robinson, 25, was found on a remote West Coast beach in December 1998. Photo: Supplied An elderly man says he is being treated as the prime suspect in the decades-old cold case killing of David Robinson. The body of Robinson, 25, was found on a remote West Coast beach near the small town of Ross on 29 December 1998. Local pensioner Mark Walsh, 84, told RNZ he fears police are "trying to frame me for a murder I didn't have anything to do with". He says police have got a statement from him, carried out a forensic search of an old school hall beside his home and seized his .22 calibre rifles. He says he's "completely innocent," and will not be engaging with police any further. Walsh said there was "no doubt" police thought he was responsible for Robinson's death. "We're old age pensioners who aren't breaking any laws, and never have. We just mind our own business up until now." Walsh said he was "absolutely worried sick" over the ordeal. "I'm 84 years old. I couldn't sleep at night for weeks after what they've done to me, and nor could my wife. It's upset both of us terribly." He said he now had nothing further to say to police. Police believe Robinson was shot with a .22 calibre firearm about 10 days before his body was found. In February, police announced they had reopened the decades-old investigation into Robinson's death . This included speaking to people in the Kakapotahi area. The remaining couple still living in the area from 1998 are Mark Walsh and his wife Jill. Speaking with RNZ, Walsh said detectives spoke with the couple when the case reopened, and then returned a few weeks later asking if they could make a statement. "I thought, well that's funny. That's usually a person who's a suspect who makes a statement, but anyway Jill and I had nothing to hide, so we went ahead and made statements." Following the statements, Walsh's brother visited the couple from the North Island. While he was there they decided they would get rid of some belongings from inside an old school house bordering his property that a neighbour was going to pull down. "We were starting to clear the carpet out, and I was burning what I could of it and one of the other neighbours wanted the floorboards he was taking, he was down there removing them," he said. While they were clearing out the building, police turned up with a forensics team. "[They said] Oh no, no. Stop, stop. We want to do forensic tests on that'." Walsh said if police had called him in advance and told them they wanted to test inside the building, he would not have started clearing it out. "They weren't very happy about what had happened... but it was their fault. They could have told us, instead of storming in," Walsh said. A few weeks later, about five police officers "stormed" Walsh's house and went through all the couple's belongings. "They said 'we want your .22 rifles'. So I let them have them, and away they went." Walsh said that after the search, he received a call from Greymouth police asking him to visit the station for a video recording. "I said 'no, I'm not talking to you about anything anymore, ever it's over'. That didn't impress them one little bit." Walsh said he was "completely innocent". "I've never even seen that bloke that got murdered. How could I kill him if I've never seen him? He was down on the beach, and we're up here. If he had been walking around here... he would've stick [sic] out like balls on a bulldog. We never saw him." He said two women had told police they heard a "bang go off" while they were at a meeting near his property at the time Robinson was murdered. He said the women "wouldn't know what they had for breakfast yesterday", and questioned how they would be able to recall something from 26 years ago. "It's pointless saying I didn't do it, because that's the last thing they're going to believe, isn't it?" he said. "Every criminal says that whether they've done it or not, so it's a stupid thing to say." Asked if it may be a bad look for him to not engage with police any further, he said he believed anything he did or did not say was "going to look bad". "They're trying to make a case against me. It wouldn't make any difference whether I talked to them or not. They tried to build a case against me, and all not talking to them is going to do is slow them down," he said. "I tried to help them as much as I could. And look what happened. They shit on me for it." Asked if there was any possibility that something might have happened that he could not recall, Walsh replied: "After what's been happening I've gone over the whole thing in my mind, and I have had a few ideas, but I just can't repeat them." Pressed further he said: "I'm not going to say anymore about it. "I've told the police everything that I know." He said his only crime he had committed "is that I still live here". "I haven't done anything. I've had nothing to do with it. The only thing I've had to do was talking to the police, and I made a big mistake doing that." He had a message for police. "Start looking for some real criminals and stop interfering with ordinary people who are minding their own business." In response to Walsh's comments, a police spokesperson said as the investigation into this matter was ongoing, police were unable to comment further. Detective Inspector Geoff Baber earlier said the reopening of the investigation had resulted in new leads, including a new sighting. A witness had told police they had seen Robinson on a street corner at the northern end of Bold Head Road near Kakapotahi, the day before he died. That person also reported seeing Robinson in the passenger seat of a green four-wheel drive around the same time. He said the sighting occurred just before a gunshot was reported to have been heard by several people in the Kakapotahi settlement, in mid-December. "Nobody has been able to tell us who fired that shot and what the shot was fired for, so the timing of it is significant for us and then obviously the way and manner in which David was killed just adds to the puzzle, which unfortunately there are still pieces missing." Baber said the investigation had already been progressed further than it had previously. Robinson's mother was being kept up to date with the investigation, and was involved in the process. "David lived an itinerant lifestyle and didn't have a lot of contact with family... but they still want to have answers, just as much as we do and talking to the community it is quite clear they still want the answers too." He was confident the case could be solved. "There are people who know what happened, they are either involved with the killing or have heard some things... and I would very much like those people to come forward and talk to police and let us know what happened. "It is very important for the community as a whole, it's a big question mark over that part of Westland and we'd like to shut the book on it if we can." Since the investigation was reopened police had received a number of firearms from individuals who owned them in the Kakapotahi area at the time. They were now conducting forensic examinations on these firearms to rule out those not used in his murder. Anybody who may have information that could help the police investigation has been asked to email them through the cold case form on the police website, or call 105 and reference the case number 231129/2221. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
The 42
01-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Majborough earns Willie Mullins a 200th win of season on home soil
MAJBOROUGH BOUNCED BACK from his Cheltenham Festival defeat with a facile victory in the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase at Punchestown. Last season's Triumph Hurdle hero had looked every inch a top-class chaser in the making after winning his first two starts over the larger obstacles, but a juddering error two fences from home ultimately led to him suffering a surprise reverse in the Arkle at Prestbury Park in mid-March. Advertisement The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old was sent off at 4-11 to reward those who kept the faith back on home soil and while he pulled his way to the front on the second circuit and raced keenly throughout under Mark Walsh, he stamped his class from the home turn, pulling 14 lengths clear of the Arkle runner-up Only By Night. Mullins, saddling his 200th winner of the season in Ireland, said: 'He jumped today like we know he can jump. For some reason things didn't go right for him in Cheltenham, but he's redeemed himself today. 'He's a huge, big horse but he's very light framed and is an athlete every time you look at him. Looking at him in the parade ring today, there wasn't one ounce of spare flesh on him, and I couldn't have galloped him one more time. 'He's only five and hopefully he'll mature this summer. I'm looking forward to what he could mature into over the next 18 months or two years. 'What he did there you are looking at the Champion Chase, but he has enough pedigree to stay a trip.'
The Herald Scotland
01-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Majborough makes amends with ease at Punchestown
The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old was sent off at 4-11 to reward those who kept the faith back on home soil and while he pulled his way to the front on the second circuit and raced keenly throughout under Mark Walsh, he stamped his class from the home turn, pulling 14 lengths clear of the Arkle runner-up Only By Night. Mullins, saddling his 200th winner of the season in Ireland, said 'He jumped today like we know he can jump. For some reason things didn't go right for him in Cheltenham, but he's redeemed himself today. 'He's a huge, big horse but he's very light framed and is an athlete every time you look at him. Looking at him in the parade ring today, there wasn't one ounce of spare flesh on him, and I couldn't have galloped him one more time. 'He's only five and hopefully he'll mature this summer. I'm looking forward to what he could mature into over the next 18 months or two years. 'What he did there you are looking at the Champion Chase, but he has enough pedigree to stay a trip.'
