As the editor of Patriots Football Weekly (PFW), Paul Perillo is a multi-media presence with his PFW television show and guestappearances on Comcast SportsNet, a regular gig with Michael Felger and Tony Massarotti on 98.5 The Sports Hub, and his own “PFW in Progress” show at Patriots.com.
Perillo grew up in Everett, MA and played football, baseball and basketball at Everett High School (Class of 1986). The multi-sport athlete has always found a place for golf on his sports to-do list. “I began playing really early, around 6 or 7 years old, with my father and grandfather,” explains Perillo, who lives in Peabody, MA with wife Beth and sons Will, 6 and Thomas, 4.
“Every Sunday morning, they’d go up to Green Meadow Golf Club in Hudson, NH and I’d caddy. Before the round, I’d usually hit a bucket at the driving range, and then hit a few of my own during the round.”
Perillo has quenched his golf passion on some excellent local courses. “Green Meadow was my favorite,” he relates. “But there are so many others like Unicorn Golf Club in Stoneham, Cedar Glen Golf Course in Saugus, or any of the courses in Lynnfield.
“I did play twice at The Country Club in Brookline, and that was probably the best I’ve ever experienced. I also played Torrey Pines once while covering the Patriots in San Diego. Other than that, Ballymeade (Falmouth) is great, as is Pinehills in Plymouth.”
Perillo captained his Boston University baseball team, and was inducted into the school’s Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009. It might not rival Adam Vinatieri’s Super Bowl-winning field goals, but Perillo has his own special golf moment as well.
“I shot a 79 at Newton Commonwealth while playing in an unofficial Boston Herald Open,” says Perillo, who spent 11 years at the Herald as an editorial assistant before joining PFW. “It was one of those days when I hit every putt. I must have one-putted for par six or seven times. Usually, anything from 85 to 93 is a good round for me. I never came close to anything like that before or since.”
In his 13 seasons covering the Patriots, Perillo has interviewed his share of gridiron greats, and has his own favorite legends from the world of golf. “How could anyone not root for Jack Nicklaus back in the day? The 1986 Masters remains one of the all-time great sports-watching moments of my life.
“Today, I usually root for Phil Mickelson and I’m starting to like Bubba Watson. It will be interesting to see when and if Tiger Woods is ever going to get his game and life back together. I find it awfully tough to get into tournaments without him in contention.”
While many sports reporters use golf as an avenue to connecting with the athletes they cover, Perillo eschews such a tactic. “I just never felt comfortable with that. I feel it’s unethical in some way I can’t really define,” says Perillo, who graduated from BU with a journalism degree in 1990.
“How am I supposed to accurately cover someone I have a personal friendship with? Today, I don’t feel like I could play well enough to get in that situation anyway. Imagine being in a foursome with Tom Brady and losing like ten balls in the round!”
The talented and articulate Perillo still finds time to play a round or two here and there, but family, football and father time are always a factor. “I’m pretty much relegated to the charity tournament circuit at this point, which means a lot of scramble format. I know golf purists hate that. Back in the day, I’d play two or three times a week. Now, I’d have to play on weekends, and I’d rather be with my wife and kids.
“I also ruptured my Achilles’ tendon last winter playing old man basketball, so the recovery has further limited my chances. I’ll play a round or two with my father this summer, and I plan to introduce the game to my sons once they’re a little older.”
Syndicated columnist John Molori writes for numerous publications and appears regularly on AM 1110 WCCM. Email John at MoloriMedia@aol.com.
About John Molori
Columnist John Molori writes for numerous publications and appears regularly on several radio stations.
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