In what could be the final sports blunder of his administration, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino told reporters on Tuesday morning he hoped the Boston Red Sox would win "the World Series Cup."
It's presumed Menino was referencing the Commissioner's Trophy, which will be awarded to the winner of the upcoming World Series between the Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals. Over the summer, the Boston Bruins played for the Stanley Cup, the top prize in hockey.
Menino is currently serving his fifth, and final, term as mayor. Bostonians will choose a new mayor in next month's election (Menino is not running). Tuesday's pronouncement adds another sound bite for a sports blooper reel that covers all of Boston's professional teams.
Over the winter, Menino stumbled on a couple of names of prominent Patriots players in a conversation with the mayor of Baltimore in advance of the AFC Championship Game.
"We have Tom Brady here, we have Tom Brady here, we have Tom Brady here. He's been our point person all season long," Menino said. "And Stevan Ridley, he's been another great guy. And Wilcock."
He of course was referring to All-Pro defensive lineman Vince Wilfork. He also referenced tight end Rob Gronkowski as "Gonk."
That wasn't the first time Menino has stumbled when referencing Gronkowski. When discussing the Patriots' chances in the playoffs against the Broncos in 2012, Menino talked about Tom Brady's weapons "Grabowski" and "Wes Weckler" (Welker).
A few months later, the mayor stuck his foot in his mouth when discussing the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals against the Miami Heat.
"There's a lot of heart in this team, let me just tell you," Menino said, before adding, "KJ is great but Hondo is really the inspiration. Hondo drives that team."
KJ should have been KG, Kevin Garnett. And Hondo was Celtics legend John Havlicek's nickname. Menino was referring to Celtics guard Rajon Rondo there.
Menino's most infamous reference came in 2010, when dedicating a statue to Bruins legend Bobby Orr's "ionic" goal to win the 1970 Stanley Cup. In discussing some of the best moments in Boston sports, Menino said it was Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek who "split the uprights" to win the Patriots' first Super Bowl in 2002. He was of course referring to Adam Vinatieri.