In the modern world, fans generally have no objection to patdowns and other security measures aimed at ensuring that no one entering a given venue is packing heat, or worse. (And to anyone who objects, we invite you to sit right next to the guy who’s keeping himself warm with a vest made of dynamite sticks.) But the notion that anyone is capable of being a terrorist or a violent criminal (my 6-year-old nephew was patted down at Sunday’s Canadiens-Penguins game) needs to yield to common sense when the contact being made involves not open palms but electric shocks.
Security draws a bead on this frolicking fan.
Monday night’s events in Philadelphia represent, unfortunately, an excellent example of common sense yielding to a badge. The logic had the kind of bright-line appeal that would make Dwight Schrute nod approvingly: 1. Suspect entered the field in violation of the law; 2. Suspect was therefore violating the law; 3. Suspect failed to heed a command from a uniformed officer to halt; 4. Officer halted suspect with Taser.
Many have glossed over the thorny question of whether a blast of electrified justice was truly necessary; they’ve launched a parade of potential horribles that simply doesn’t reflect the realities of the situation. Folks who "get it" can see when a kid running on the field intends to harm someone, and when the kid merely is acting like a goof for the sake of acting like a goof. (Or, like George Costanza faux streaking in a flesh-colored bodysuit, trying simply to get fired from his job.)
Video of the incident leaves no doubt. Apart from the blades of grass on which he was running, the only thing to which the boy posed a threat was the ego of the slow, out-of-shape police officer whose primary "protect and serve" activities apparently have been confined to the pastry case. (Hey, at least I tried to come up with a different spin on the "cops eat donuts" thing.)
Again, watch the video. The police officer has the Taser gun out at least 10 seconds before he gets off a shot. And the guy’s internal monologue likely was going a little something like this: "I finally get to use my Taser. I finally get to use my Taser. I finally get to use my Taser. And people are actually watching me do it."
After the kid had his face resting on some of the blades of grass on which he’d been running, the cop adopts a Dirty Harry demeanor, hovering over his fallen prey and shifting his weight from side to side. "Yeah, I Tased you, bro. I Tased you good. And people were actually watching me do it."
The damage control quickly began on Tuesday, lest the boy file a lawsuit for brutality and/or violation of his civil rights. A police spokesman claimed that "the officer had acted within the department’s guidelines, which allow officers to use Tasers to arrest fleeing suspects."
This rationale assumes that the kid was actually fleeing. But he was in a baseball stadium. He was on the field of play. Despite the Keystone Cops similarities between Monday’s incident and the 2002 Falcons-Vikings game during which Mike Vick riddled the Minnesota defense for a game-winning touchdown in overtime, the kid wasn’t going to get away. The only thing he was "fleeing" was his inevitable capture in the open spaces of the vast expanse of outfield.
Let’s not forget one very important fact here: Tasers aren’t exactly safe. Death, though remotely possible, is still possible. The police and the Phillies should consider themselves fortunate that no serious injury was inflicted, and they should immediately review the wisdom (or lack thereof) of using Tasers on paying customers who possibly have spent too much additional money buying beer.
Hopefully, every team will engage in a similar review. And, hopefully, they all will decide that Tasers should be used not on rowdy fans, but on actual criminals. If cops assigned to a given game can’t tell the difference, they shouldn’t be there.
Mike Florio writes and edits ProFootballTalk.com and is a regular contributor to Sporting News. Check out PFT for up-to-the minute NFL news.
In the modern world, fans generally have no objection to patdowns and other security measures aimed at ensuring that no one entering a given venue is packing heat, or worse. (And to anyone who objects, we invite you to sit right next to the guy who’s keeping himself warm with a vest made of dynamite sticks.) But the notion that anyone is capable of being a terrorist or a violent criminal (my 6-year-old nephew was patted down at Sunday’s Canadiens-Penguins game) needs to yield to common sense when the contact being made involves not open palms but electric shocks.
Security draws a bead on this frolicking fan.
Monday night’s events in Philadelphia represent, unfortunately, an excellent example of common sense yielding to a badge. The logic had the kind of bright-line appeal that would make Dwight Schrute nod approvingly: 1. Suspect entered the field in violation of the law; 2. Suspect was therefore violating the law; 3. Suspect failed to heed a command from a uniformed officer to halt; 4. Officer halted suspect with Taser.
Many have glossed over the thorny question of whether a blast of electrified justice was truly necessary; they’ve launched a parade of potential horribles that simply doesn’t reflect the realities of the situation. Folks who "get it" can see when a kid running on the field intends to harm someone, and when the kid merely is acting like a goof for the sake of acting like a goof. (Or, like George Costanza faux streaking in a flesh-colored bodysuit, trying simply to get fired from his job.)
Video of the incident leaves no doubt. Apart from the blades of grass on which he was running, the only thing to which the boy posed a threat was the ego of the slow, out-of-shape police officer whose primary "protect and serve" activities apparently have been confined to the pastry case. (Hey, at least I tried to come up with a different spin on the "cops eat donuts" thing.)
Again, watch the video. The police officer has the Taser gun out at least 10 seconds before he gets off a shot. And the guy’s internal monologue likely was going a little something like this: "I finally get to use my Taser. I finally get to use my Taser. I finally get to use my Taser. And people are actually watching me do it."
After the kid had his face resting on some of the blades of grass on which he’d been running, the cop adopts a Dirty Harry demeanor, hovering over his fallen prey and shifting his weight from side to side. "Yeah, I Tased you, bro. I Tased you good. And people were actually watching me do it."
The damage control quickly began on Tuesday, lest the boy file a lawsuit for brutality and/or violation of his civil rights. A police spokesman claimed that "the officer had acted within the department’s guidelines, which allow officers to use Tasers to arrest fleeing suspects."
This rationale assumes that the kid was actually fleeing. But he was in a baseball stadium. He was on the field of play. Despite the Keystone Cops similarities between Monday’s incident and the 2002 Falcons-Vikings game during which Mike Vick riddled the Minnesota defense for a game-winning touchdown in overtime, the kid wasn’t going to get away. The only thing he was "fleeing" was his inevitable capture in the open spaces of the vast expanse of outfield.
Let’s not forget one very important fact here: Tasers aren’t exactly safe. Death, though remotely possible, is still possible. The police and the Phillies should consider themselves fortunate that no serious injury was inflicted, and they should immediately review the wisdom (or lack thereof) of using Tasers on paying customers who possibly have spent too much additional money buying beer.
Hopefully, every team will engage in a similar review. And, hopefully, they all will decide that Tasers should be used not on rowdy fans, but on actual criminals. If cops assigned to a given game can’t tell the difference, they shouldn’t be there.
Mike Florio writes and edits ProFootballTalk.com and is a regular contributor to Sporting News. Check out PFT for up-to-the minute NFL news.
DETROIT — From the sandy shores of Lake Michigan to the rugged streets in Flint, they listened to Ernie Harwell tell the Tigers’ tales for more than 40 years.
Beloved by generations of baseball fans who grew up enraptured by his rich voice, Southern cadence and quirky phrases on the radio, Harwell died Tuesday after a months-long battle with cancer. He was 92.
The longtime Detroit Tigers broadcaster died about 7:30 p.m. in his apartment at Fox Run Village and Retirement Center in the Detroit suburb of Novi, said his attorney and longtime friend, S. Gary Spicer.
His wife of 68 years, Lulu, and his two sons and two daughters were at his side, Spicer said.
For 55 years, the press box was Ernie Harwell’s office. In this 1993 photo, he takes a break from a Tigers-Yankees game at Yankee Stadium.
"We’ll miss you, Ernie Harwell. You’ll forever be the voice of summer," Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm tweeted.
A Hall of Fame announcer who was acquired by the Brooklyn Dodgers for a catcher in 1948, Harwell revealed in September that he’d been diagnosed with inoperable cancer of the bile duct. He took the news with characteristic poise, saying he planned to continue working on a book and other projects.
"Whatever happens, I’m ready to face it," Harwell told The Associated Press on Sept. 4, 2009.
Harwell’s body will lie in repose at Comerica Park on Thursday beginning at 7 a.m. and "until the last person who wishes to pay their respects" has done so, Spicer said.
"It might be an all-night vigil," he said.
There will be no public memorial service, and the family will hold a private funeral service at a location Spicer declined to disclose.
The Tigers were in Minnesota on Tuesday night. During the seventh-inning stretch, the Twins announced Harwell had died, and fans honored him with a standing ovation.
"All of Major League Baseball is in mourning tonight upon learning of the loss of a giant of our game," commissioner Bud Selig said. "This son of Georgia was the voice of the Detroit Tigers and one of the game’s iconic announcers to fans across America, always representing the best of our national pastime to his generations of listeners.
"Without question, Ernie was one of the finest and most distinguished gentlemen I have ever met."
Shortly after Harwell announced that he was ill, the Tigers honored him during a game against Kansas City, showing a video tribute and giving him a chance to address the crowd at Comerica Park.
"In my almost 92 years on this Earth, the good Lord has blessed me with a great journey," Harwell said at a microphone behind home plate. "The blessed part of that journey is that it’s going to end here in the great state of Michigan."
Harwell spent 42 of his 55 years in broadcasting with the Tigers, joining Mel Allen, Jack Buck, Harry Caray and others among the game’s most famous play-by-play voices.
He announced Detroit games on radio from 1960-1991, again in 1993 and from 1999-2002. He broadcast games on over-the-air and cable television from 1960-64 and 1994-98.
When he signed off following his final game in 2002, Harwell was as eloquent as ever.
Ernie Harwell says goodbye to Tigers fans last September at Comerica Park.
"It’s time to say goodbye, but I think goodbyes are sad and I’d much rather say hello. Hello to a new adventure. I’m not leaving, folks. I’ll still be with you, living my life in Michigan — my home state — surrounded by family and friends," he said.
"And rather than goodbye, please allow me to say thank you. Thank you for letting me be part of your family. Thank you for taking me with you to that cottage up north, to the beach, the picnic, your work place and your back yard. Thank you for sneaking your transistor under the pillow as you grew up loving the Tigers. Now, I might have been a small part of your life. But you’ve been a very large part of mine. And it’s my privilege and honor to share with you the greatest game of all."
Hall of Fame announcer Vin Scully began broadcasting Brooklyn Dodgers games in 1950, the season after Harwell left.
"Probably the best word, he was gentle. And it came across. He just cared for people and he loved baseball," Scully said. "You can understand how the people in Detroit just loved him. I followed him into Brooklyn, and then I followed him into the Hall. He was such a lovely man. However that word is defined, that was Ernie."
Harwell’s passing came one season after the death of another cherished baseball announcer, Philadelphia’s Harry Kalas.
"What a voice," said longtime Tigers shortstop Alan Trammell, the World Series MVP the last time the Tigers won it all in 1984. "He did it with class, he did it with dignity. We shed a tear tonight, that’s for sure."
The Tigers and their flagship radio station, WJR, allowed Harwell’s contract to expire after the 1991 season in what became a public relations nightmare. Then-Tigers president Bo Schembechler, the former Michigan football coach, took the blame. WJR general manager Jim Long later took responsibility for the unpopular move.
When Mike Ilitch bought the franchise from Tom Monaghan, he put Harwell back in the booth in 1993. Harwell chose to retire after the 2002 season.
"Ernie Harwell was the most popular sports figure in the state of Michigan," said Ilitch, who also owns the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings.
Harwell began his journalism career as a correspondent for The Sporting News when he was still in high school in Atlanta. Harwell had a long association with TSN, and his 1955 essay, The Game for All America, considered a baseball literature classic, was originally published in SN magazine.
Harwell’s big break came in unorthodox fashion.
Brooklyn Dodgers radio broadcaster Red Barber fell ill in 1948, and general manager Branch Rickey needed a replacement. After learning that the minor league Atlanta Crackers needed a catcher, Rickey sent Cliff Dapper to Atlanta and Harwell joined the Dodgers.
By his own count, Harwell called more than 8,300 major league games, starting with the Dodgers and continuing with the New York Giants and Baltimore Orioles before he joined the Tigers. He missed two games outside of the ’92 season: one for his brother’s funeral in 1968, the other when he was inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame in 1989.
His easygoing manner and love of baseball endeared him to Tigers fans, enhancing the club’s finest moments and making its struggles more bearable.
Even casual rooters could tick off Harwell catch phrases: "Looooooong gone!" for a home run; "He stood there like the house by the side of the road and watched that one go by" for a batter taking a called third strike; and "Two for the price of one!" for a double play.
Foul balls into the stands were "Caught by a man from (whatever town in the area that came to his mind)."
"I started that after I got to Detroit in 1961 or ’62, and it just happened by accident," Harwell explained. "I said, ‘A guy from Grosse Pointe caught that foul ball,’ then the next ones were caught by a guy from Saginaw or a lady from Lansing."
The Baseball Hall of Fame honored Harwell in 1981 with the Ford C. Frick Award, given annually to a broadcaster for major contributions to baseball.
A life-sized statue of Harwell stands at the entrance to Comerica Park and its press box is called "The Ernie Harwell Media Center."
Harwell was born Jan. 25, 1918, in Washington, Ga., with a speech defect that left him tongue-tied. Through therapy and forcing himself to participate in debates and classroom discussions, he had overcome the handicap by the time he graduated from Emory University.
Harwell’s survivors also include seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
DETROIT — From the sandy shores of Lake Michigan to the rugged streets in Flint, they listened to Ernie Harwell tell the Tigers’ tales for more than 40 years.
Beloved by generations of baseball fans who grew up enraptured by his rich voice, Southern cadence and quirky phrases on the radio, Harwell died Tuesday after a months-long battle with cancer. He was 92.
The longtime Detroit Tigers broadcaster died about 7:30 p.m. in his apartment at Fox Run Village and Retirement Center in the Detroit suburb of Novi, said his attorney and longtime friend, S. Gary Spicer.
His wife of 68 years, Lulu, and his two sons and two daughters were at his side, Spicer said.
For 55 years, the press box was Ernie Harwell’s office. In this 1993 photo, he takes a break from a Tigers-Yankees game at Yankee Stadium.
"We’ll miss you, Ernie Harwell. You’ll forever be the voice of summer," Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm tweeted.
A Hall of Fame announcer who was acquired by the Brooklyn Dodgers for a catcher in 1948, Harwell revealed in September that he’d been diagnosed with inoperable cancer of the bile duct. He took the news with characteristic poise, saying he planned to continue working on a book and other projects.
"Whatever happens, I’m ready to face it," Harwell told The Associated Press on Sept. 4, 2009.
Harwell’s body will lie in repose at Comerica Park on Thursday beginning at 7 a.m. and "until the last person who wishes to pay their respects" has done so, Spicer said.
"It might be an all-night vigil," he said.
There will be no public memorial service, and the family will hold a private funeral service at a location Spicer declined to disclose.
The Tigers were in Minnesota on Tuesday night. During the seventh-inning stretch, the Twins announced Harwell had died, and fans honored him with a standing ovation.
"All of Major League Baseball is in mourning tonight upon learning of the loss of a giant of our game," commissioner Bud Selig said. "This son of Georgia was the voice of the Detroit Tigers and one of the game’s iconic announcers to fans across America, always representing the best of our national pastime to his generations of listeners.
"Without question, Ernie was one of the finest and most distinguished gentlemen I have ever met."
Shortly after Harwell announced that he was ill, the Tigers honored him during a game against Kansas City, showing a video tribute and giving him a chance to address the crowd at Comerica Park.
"In my almost 92 years on this Earth, the good Lord has blessed me with a great journey," Harwell said at a microphone behind home plate. "The blessed part of that journey is that it’s going to end here in the great state of Michigan."
Harwell spent 42 of his 55 years in broadcasting with the Tigers, joining Mel Allen, Jack Buck, Harry Caray and others among the game’s most famous play-by-play voices.
He announced Detroit games on radio from 1960-1991, again in 1993 and from 1999-2002. He broadcast games on over-the-air and cable television from 1960-64 and 1994-98.
When he signed off following his final game in 2002, Harwell was as eloquent as ever.
Ernie Harwell says goodbye to Tigers fans last September at Comerica Park.
"It’s time to say goodbye, but I think goodbyes are sad and I’d much rather say hello. Hello to a new adventure. I’m not leaving, folks. I’ll still be with you, living my life in Michigan — my home state — surrounded by family and friends," he said.
"And rather than goodbye, please allow me to say thank you. Thank you for letting me be part of your family. Thank you for taking me with you to that cottage up north, to the beach, the picnic, your work place and your back yard. Thank you for sneaking your transistor under the pillow as you grew up loving the Tigers. Now, I might have been a small part of your life. But you’ve been a very large part of mine. And it’s my privilege and honor to share with you the greatest game of all."
Hall of Fame announcer Vin Scully began broadcasting Brooklyn Dodgers games in 1950, the season after Harwell left.
"Probably the best word, he was gentle. And it came across. He just cared for people and he loved baseball," Scully said. "You can understand how the people in Detroit just loved him. I followed him into Brooklyn, and then I followed him into the Hall. He was such a lovely man. However that word is defined, that was Ernie."
Harwell’s passing came one season after the death of another cherished baseball announcer, Philadelphia’s Harry Kalas.
"What a voice," said longtime Tigers shortstop Alan Trammell, the World Series MVP the last time the Tigers won it all in 1984. "He did it with class, he did it with dignity. We shed a tear tonight, that’s for sure."
The Tigers and their flagship radio station, WJR, allowed Harwell’s contract to expire after the 1991 season in what became a public relations nightmare. Then-Tigers president Bo Schembechler, the former Michigan football coach, took the blame. WJR general manager Jim Long later took responsibility for the unpopular move.
When Mike Ilitch bought the franchise from Tom Monaghan, he put Harwell back in the booth in 1993. Harwell chose to retire after the 2002 season.
"Ernie Harwell was the most popular sports figure in the state of Michigan," said Ilitch, who also owns the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings.
Harwell began his journalism career as a correspondent for The Sporting News when he was still in high school in Atlanta. Harwell had a long association with TSN, and his 1955 essay, The Game for All America, considered a baseball literature classic, was originally published in SN magazine.
Harwell’s big break came in unorthodox fashion.
Brooklyn Dodgers radio broadcaster Red Barber fell ill in 1948, and general manager Branch Rickey needed a replacement. After learning that the minor league Atlanta Crackers needed a catcher, Rickey sent Cliff Dapper to Atlanta and Harwell joined the Dodgers.
By his own count, Harwell called more than 8,300 major league games, starting with the Dodgers and continuing with the New York Giants and Baltimore Orioles before he joined the Tigers. He missed two games outside of the ’92 season: one for his brother’s funeral in 1968, the other when he was inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame in 1989.
His easygoing manner and love of baseball endeared him to Tigers fans, enhancing the club’s finest moments and making its struggles more bearable.
Even casual rooters could tick off Harwell catch phrases: "Looooooong gone!" for a home run; "He stood there like the house by the side of the road and watched that one go by" for a batter taking a called third strike; and "Two for the price of one!" for a double play.
Foul balls into the stands were "Caught by a man from (whatever town in the area that came to his mind)."
"I started that after I got to Detroit in 1961 or ’62, and it just happened by accident," Harwell explained. "I said, ‘A guy from Grosse Pointe caught that foul ball,’ then the next ones were caught by a guy from Saginaw or a lady from Lansing."
The Baseball Hall of Fame honored Harwell in 1981 with the Ford C. Frick Award, given annually to a broadcaster for major contributions to baseball.
A life-sized statue of Harwell stands at the entrance to Comerica Park and its press box is called "The Ernie Harwell Media Center."
Harwell was born Jan. 25, 1918, in Washington, Ga., with a speech defect that left him tongue-tied. Through therapy and forcing himself to participate in debates and classroom discussions, he had overcome the handicap by the time he graduated from Emory University.
Harwell’s survivors also include seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
‘It’s a personal thing. My mom passed away because of breast cancer,’ Dave Winfield says.
Hall of Famer Dave Winfield is lending his voice to the fight against breast cancer. His mother, Arline, died from the disease in 1988. Winfield, a spokesman for Ask.com’s baseball-themed "Answer for the Cure," campaign, recently spoke with Sporting News’ Matt Crossman about the Ask.com campaign and a handful of baseball topics.
Sporting News: Why are you involved with this Ask.com project?
Dave Winfield: I was honored Ask.com would ask me to a spokesperson this year for their campaign. It’s just to encourage people to join in the fight against breast cancer. You just have to go to ask.com/forthecure. It’s a personal thing. My mom passed away because of breast cancer. When I was playing ball for the Yankees in ’87 and ’88, it was a difficult time for me. Here it is 20 years later, and they haven’t solved this.
SN: Was your mom a big sports fan?
DW: Yeah, she was a big fan of her kids. My brother and I played sports all the time. It kind of all dovetails together, using the platform of ask.com and baseball. You’re going to see a baseball theme at ask.com. It’ll help a lot of people through this. It was a difficult time in my life, but I’m trying to make a positive out of it. We’re kicking this off on May 3, my mother’s birthday was May 4, and Mother’s Day is this weekend.
SN: You grew up in the Twin Cities as a star athlete in three sports. Do you feel a kinship with Joe Mauer?
DW: Yeah, absolutely. My brother was a referee and baseball coach and teacher for many years. He used to tell me, "This kid Joe Mauer, he’s young and he does it all." Without saying, "Like you did." He played football, he played basketball and he played baseball. He wasn’t afraid, he just played. Now I’m seeing him on the big stage. The Mauer family in Minnesota has meant a lot to that community, done a lot. Joe is a great representative.
SN: Are your Padres for real? We’ve been through a month of the season, and they’re still in first place.
DW: Five out of the last seven months from last season to this season, they’ve had (at least a .500 record). Perhaps it’s not a fluke. You don’t know a lot of people on the team. Most people around the country have not heard of Chase Headley or Will Venable or Luke Gregerson or Tim Stauffer. It’s, "Who? What?" They’ve put together some pretty feisty young guys, along with David Eckstein and, of course, Adrian Gonzalez. It’s a good team. Let’s just say that and let it unfold.
SN: Do major league games take too long?
DW: Even when I played with the Yankees, the games would be long — longer than everybody else’s. It’s just the way it’s been for the last, I don’t know, 20 years. The commissioner is doing all he can to speed them up, with the umpires. But games are just taking a long time. TV is involved in there, too. They could move the games along.
Winfield went straight from college to the Padres.
SN: You were drafted and went right to the big leagues as a position player. Conversely, the Nationals are taking their time with Stephen Strasburg. Did you see him pitch much at San Diego State? What’s your take on that issue?
DW: I saw him pitch down there in San Diego. He’s got tremendous velocity. He’s a kid that became dedicated later in his teenage life. He just wasn’t in real good shape, didn’t have a real good attitude or approach toward saying, "I’m going to reach my goals." But he turned that around, got in better shape. His velocity increased dramatically. Working for Tony Gwynn, I guess he got some insight into professional life.
He’ll do well in the big leagues. But you can’t rush it, particularly with a pitcher. Throwing 100 miles per hour without understanding how to travel, and the rigors of the sport, and developing your other pitches, and getting used to the professional life, it could work against you. You want a kid to be building his confidence. You don’t want to be set back. That could mess with your mind. I think the Nationals are doing the right thing.
Matt Crossman is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at mcrossman@sportingnews.com.
‘It’s a personal thing. My mom passed away because of breast cancer,’ Dave Winfield says.
Hall of Famer Dave Winfield is lending his voice to the fight against breast cancer. His mother, Arline, died from the disease in 1988. Winfield, a spokesman for Ask.com’s baseball-themed "Answer for the Cure," campaign, recently spoke with Sporting News’ Matt Crossman about the Ask.com campaign and a handful of baseball topics.
Sporting News: Why are you involved with this Ask.com project?
Dave Winfield: I was honored Ask.com would ask me to a spokesperson this year for their campaign. It’s just to encourage people to join in the fight against breast cancer. You just have to go to ask.com/forthecure. It’s a personal thing. My mom passed away because of breast cancer. When I was playing ball for the Yankees in ’87 and ’88, it was a difficult time for me. Here it is 20 years later, and they haven’t solved this.
SN: Was your mom a big sports fan?
DW: Yeah, she was a big fan of her kids. My brother and I played sports all the time. It kind of all dovetails together, using the platform of ask.com and baseball. You’re going to see a baseball theme at ask.com. It’ll help a lot of people through this. It was a difficult time in my life, but I’m trying to make a positive out of it. We’re kicking this off on May 3, my mother’s birthday was May 4, and Mother’s Day is this weekend.
SN: You grew up in the Twin Cities as a star athlete in three sports. Do you feel a kinship with Joe Mauer?
DW: Yeah, absolutely. My brother was a referee and baseball coach and teacher for many years. He used to tell me, "This kid Joe Mauer, he’s young and he does it all." Without saying, "Like you did." He played football, he played basketball and he played baseball. He wasn’t afraid, he just played. Now I’m seeing him on the big stage. The Mauer family in Minnesota has meant a lot to that community, done a lot. Joe is a great representative.
SN: Are your Padres for real? We’ve been through a month of the season, and they’re still in first place.
DW: Five out of the last seven months from last season to this season, they’ve had (at least a .500 record). Perhaps it’s not a fluke. You don’t know a lot of people on the team. Most people around the country have not heard of Chase Headley or Will Venable or Luke Gregerson or Tim Stauffer. It’s, "Who? What?" They’ve put together some pretty feisty young guys, along with David Eckstein and, of course, Adrian Gonzalez. It’s a good team. Let’s just say that and let it unfold.
SN: Do major league games take too long?
DW: Even when I played with the Yankees, the games would be long — longer than everybody else’s. It’s just the way it’s been for the last, I don’t know, 20 years. The commissioner is doing all he can to speed them up, with the umpires. But games are just taking a long time. TV is involved in there, too. They could move the games along.
Winfield went straight from college to the Padres.
SN: You were drafted and went right to the big leagues as a position player. Conversely, the Nationals are taking their time with Stephen Strasburg. Did you see him pitch much at San Diego State? What’s your take on that issue?
DW: I saw him pitch down there in San Diego. He’s got tremendous velocity. He’s a kid that became dedicated later in his teenage life. He just wasn’t in real good shape, didn’t have a real good attitude or approach toward saying, "I’m going to reach my goals." But he turned that around, got in better shape. His velocity increased dramatically. Working for Tony Gwynn, I guess he got some insight into professional life.
He’ll do well in the big leagues. But you can’t rush it, particularly with a pitcher. Throwing 100 miles per hour without understanding how to travel, and the rigors of the sport, and developing your other pitches, and getting used to the professional life, it could work against you. You want a kid to be building his confidence. You don’t want to be set back. That could mess with your mind. I think the Nationals are doing the right thing.
Matt Crossman is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at mcrossman@sportingnews.com.
NHL: Fly’s been paying attention to Mike Modano since he denied rumors last month that he was involved with a group led by Wayne Gretzky bidding for the Stars. He later said he was looking at a possibility with another ownership group, led by former team president Jim Lites. One issue standing in his way: the NHL won’t let Modano be a player/owner, and the 39-year-old (who will be 40 June 7) hasn’t decided if he wants to hang up his skates. Modano tells the Dallas Morning News he will stay in shape and intends to return as a player, until an ownership decision is made, at least. "There’s no hurry right now," he said.
NBA: In another story behind the story … turns out George Shinn got motivated to sell the Hornets because his prostate cancer scare this past fall and winter was a life-changing experience, sources tell the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Shinn now wants to focus his time, energy and wealth on increasing awareness of prostate cancer and early detection — along with spending more time on his other charitable interests. Shinn has been cancer free since January after being diagnosed in November.
MLB/NFL: Interesting results in a Philadelphia Inquirer survey of local sports fans: "You love the Eagles. But you have eloped with the Phillies." The newspaper reports 54 percent of those surveyed picked the Phillies as their favorite team; the Eagles came in second at 30 percent. Oh, and 74 percent of those who picked the Phillies as their favorite team say they’re "very satisfied" with the job Charlie Manuel has done. And Philly fans love Kate Smith singing "God Bless America."
NFL: The folks over at TMZ checked in on how Plaxico Burress is doing in jail and found out he has an issue. Plax lost his recreational time privileges for a month after telling a guard he had permission to make a phone call when he did not, according to the gossip site.
Tennis: What happens when Serena Williams’ boyfriend has to kiss Queen Latifah and Paula Patton in a film role? Common answers that question: "You know i’m an actor man, I gotta do what I gotta do. Any woman that I am with is going to respect what I do. Meaning the work that I do and if i do something to disrespect them they will pull me to the side." Common goes on to add Serena "might be after Latifah with a tennis racket sooner or later."
Sponsored link: Pittsburgh Penguins tickets available
NHL: Fly’s been paying attention to Mike Modano since he denied rumors last month that he was involved with a group led by Wayne Gretzky bidding for the Stars. He later said he was looking at a possibility with another ownership group, led by former team president Jim Lites. One issue standing in his way: the NHL won’t let Modano be a player/owner, and the 39-year-old (who will be 40 June 7) hasn’t decided if he wants to hang up his skates. Modano tells the Dallas Morning News he will stay in shape and intends to return as a player, until an ownership decision is made, at least. "There’s no hurry right now," he said.
NBA: In another story behind the story … turns out George Shinn got motivated to sell the Hornets because his prostate cancer scare this past fall and winter was a life-changing experience, sources tell the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Shinn now wants to focus his time, energy and wealth on increasing awareness of prostate cancer and early detection — along with spending more time on his other charitable interests. Shinn has been cancer free since January after being diagnosed in November.
MLB/NFL: Interesting results in a Philadelphia Inquirer survey of local sports fans: "You love the Eagles. But you have eloped with the Phillies." The newspaper reports 54 percent of those surveyed picked the Phillies as their favorite team; the Eagles came in second at 30 percent. Oh, and 74 percent of those who picked the Phillies as their favorite team say they’re "very satisfied" with the job Charlie Manuel has done. And Philly fans love Kate Smith singing "God Bless America."
NFL: The folks over at TMZ checked in on how Plaxico Burress is doing in jail and found out he has an issue. Plax lost his recreational time privileges for a month after telling a guard he had permission to make a phone call when he did not, according to the gossip site.
Tennis: What happens when Serena Williams’ boyfriend has to kiss Queen Latifah and Paula Patton in a film role? Common answers that question: "You know i’m an actor man, I gotta do what I gotta do. Any woman that I am with is going to respect what I do. Meaning the work that I do and if i do something to disrespect them they will pull me to the side." Common goes on to add Serena "might be after Latifah with a tennis racket sooner or later."
Sponsored link: Pittsburgh Penguins tickets available
Sporting News staff reports
Theo Epstein has seen enough.
The Red Sox’s general manager tells the Boston Herald that there will be a shakeup if the team’s poor play continues.
"We’re still playing bad baseball. Unintelligent, undisciplined, uninspired baseball. It’s got to change. It either changes itself or we have to do something to change it," Epstein said Sunday after Boston was swept by the Orioles in Baltimore.
The Sox responded to the sweep — and Epstein’s rant — by routing the Angels 17-8 Monday night at Fenway Park.
The players’ postgame comments betrayed no outrage toward their boss.
"I don’t have a problem with him saying it," infielder/DH Mike Lowell told reporters. "I think I’d have a problem with him saying it if I thought we were playing good baseball. But I don’t think anyone in here thought we were playing good baseball. Hopefully it will start."
Boston was expected to be an elite team after spending big in the offseason for free agents John Lackey, Adrian Beltre, Marco Scutaro and Mike Cameron, but it has stumbled to a 12-14 start. It trails the first-place Rays by 5 1/2 games in the AL East.
Sporting News staff reports
Theo Epstein has seen enough.
The Red Sox’s general manager tells the Boston Herald that there will be a shakeup if the team’s poor play continues.
"We’re still playing bad baseball. Unintelligent, undisciplined, uninspired baseball. It’s got to change. It either changes itself or we have to do something to change it," Epstein said Sunday after Boston was swept by the Orioles in Baltimore.
The Sox responded to the sweep — and Epstein’s rant — by routing the Angels 17-8 Monday night at Fenway Park.
The players’ postgame comments betrayed no outrage toward their boss.
"I don’t have a problem with him saying it," infielder/DH Mike Lowell told reporters. "I think I’d have a problem with him saying it if I thought we were playing good baseball. But I don’t think anyone in here thought we were playing good baseball. Hopefully it will start."
Boston was expected to be an elite team after spending big in the offseason for free agents John Lackey, Adrian Beltre, Marco Scutaro and Mike Cameron, but it has stumbled to a 12-14 start. It trails the first-place Rays by 5 1/2 games in the AL East.
Sporting News staff reports
Mets right-hander Mike Pelfrey is experiencing tightness in his pitching shoulder but still expects to make his next scheduled start.
MLB.com reports Pelfrey felt uncomfortable before and after Saturday’s start against the Phillies, though Pelfrey insists the tightness did not bother him during the game. Pelfrey was hit hard as his scoreless-innings streak ended at 27; he allowed six runs in the fourth inning.
Pelfrey was examined Monday in New York and rejoined the team in Cincinnati for its series opener against the Reds. He is expected to throw a scheduled bullpen session Tuesday. If that goes well, he’ll start Friday against the Giants.
"It’s nothing crazy," Pelfrey told reporters. "It’s just a little sore, a little tight."
Pelfrey tried to downplay his condition.
"I don’t want to make a big deal out if it, because it’s not," he said. "I’ll be able to make my next start and my next 25 starts after that. It’s not a big deal at all."
In other news, Mets right-hander Kelvim Escobar will have shoulder surgery Wednesday and miss the entire season.
Arm injuries have limited Escobar to one major league appearance since 2007. Still, the Mets signed him to a $1.25 million, one-year contract in the offseason, hoping he could be a late-inning reliever.
Escobar developed a sore shoulder in March, preventing him from pitching, and his condition hasn’t improved.
Sporting News staff reports
Mets right-hander Mike Pelfrey is experiencing tightness in his pitching shoulder but still expects to make his next scheduled start.
MLB.com reports Pelfrey felt uncomfortable before and after Saturday’s start against the Phillies, though Pelfrey insists the tightness did not bother him during the game. Pelfrey was hit hard as his scoreless-innings streak ended at 27; he allowed six runs in the fourth inning.
Pelfrey was examined Monday in New York and rejoined the team in Cincinnati for its series opener against the Reds. He is expected to throw a scheduled bullpen session Tuesday. If that goes well, he’ll start Friday against the Giants.
"It’s nothing crazy," Pelfrey told reporters. "It’s just a little sore, a little tight."
Pelfrey tried to downplay his condition.
"I don’t want to make a big deal out if it, because it’s not," he said. "I’ll be able to make my next start and my next 25 starts after that. It’s not a big deal at all."
In other news, Mets right-hander Kelvim Escobar will have shoulder surgery Wednesday and miss the entire season.
Arm injuries have limited Escobar to one major league appearance since 2007. Still, the Mets signed him to a $1.25 million, one-year contract in the offseason, hoping he could be a late-inning reliever.
Escobar developed a sore shoulder in March, preventing him from pitching, and his condition hasn’t improved.
A glance at the standings last week showed that 28 teams had records no worse than three games under .500. That’s a lot of teams playing decent baseball. That’s good for parity, but not so good for power pollsters who have to, for example, decide where to rank five 11-14 teams.
Pulling names out of a hat would be too easy. Instead, we studied the trends, analyzed the numbers, consulted with our editor and then … flipped a coin. Just kidding about the coin, of course. Onto the poll.
How good is Adam Wainwright and the rest of the Cardinals’ rotation? We may find out this week.
1. Cardinals (5). These next four days will give us a much better idea of just how good is the Cardinals’ rotation, which leads the majors with a 2.55 ERA. The Cardinals face the mighty Phillies in Philly.
2. Rays (1). Losing two of four at home to the Royals was enough to drop them from the top spot. But they’ll be back if they perform on their nine-game journey to the West Coast like they did on their first trip of the season (9-1).
3. Padres (4). We don’t believe they’re this good, either. But after a 5-2 week that included three shutouts of the Brewers, they deserve to be here.
4. Yankees (3). Four regulars — A-Rod, Mark Teixeira, Nick Johnson and Curtis Granderson — have combined for just nine homers yet the Bombers still are 16-8. That is a deep lineup, one that will be without Granderson for at least 15 days (strained groin).
5. Twins (2). This is a deep organization: Joe Mauer is out with a bruised left heel and his replacement, top prospect Wilson Ramos, becomes the first Twin since Kirby Puckett to have a four-hit debut.
6. Giants (8). Who says these guys can’t hit? The Giants scored at least five runs in five of six games last week, enough to give them series wins over the Phillies and Rockies. Yet they still only rank 12th in runs in the NL.
7. Phillies (6). Brad Lidge served a homer to the first batter he faced after coming off the DL, which happened to be the same day his fill-in, Ryan Madson, went on the DL for kicking a chair and breaking a toe. No wonder there is concern about their bullpen.
Johnny Damon has performed for the Tigers.
8. Tigers (11). They knew what they were doing this off-season: Johnny Damon and Austin Jackson both are top five in runs and top 10 in OBP in the AL.
9. Rangers (24). Yes, moving up 15 spots is a big jump but the Rangers did win five of seven, including their first sweep at Safeco Field. Whatever Colby Lewis learned in Japan, it’s working. He’s 3-0 with a 2.76 ERA.
10. Rockies (9). Jim Tracy’s pre-game "talk" on Sunday and a strong start by rookie Jhoulys Chacin (one hit in seven innings) has the Rockies primed for better play. They’ll need it this week with series at San Diego and L.A.
11. Mets (11). That winning streak was nice but it sure ended with a thud. They were outscored 21-5 in dropping two at Philly.
12. Marlins (13). Jorge Cantu is much like his team: Largely unnoticed but pretty darn good. He has a hit in 23 of 24 games and leads the NL with 25 RBIs.
13. Nationals (12). Ho-hum. Another .500 week for last year’s doormats. And Stephen Strasburg is getting closer. Predicted debut: June 4, home, vs. Reds.
14. Cubs (18). They better win now. They’re in a three-series stretch against the NL’s worst-pitching clubs. They won three against the Diamondbacks (5.90 ERA), with Pirates (6.79) and Reds (5.46) next.
15. Angels (15). Mickey Hatcher on struggling youngster Brandon Wood: "I think his computer is overloading." The poll gets that same feeling when trying to figure out the Angels.
16. Red Sox (20). We’re focusing on J.D. Drew’s three-game hitting streak with three homers and Josh Beckett’s bounce-back start, not being swept at Baltimore.
17. Dodgers (16). Winning three of four at home against the Pirates doesn’t make up for being swept at New York.
Veron Wells has been great, but he can’t do it alone for the Blue Jays.
18. Blue Jays (14). Vernon Wells and Alex Gonzalez both rank among early-season surprises with eight homers each. But they need help.
19. A’s (7). Bet they’re glad to return home. Last week’s trip to the East did little for their place in the poll as they dropped five of six. It did even less for the team ERA, which shot to 4.04 from 2.93.
20. Braves (23). They’ll be even better when Bobby Cox moves Jason Heyward up another spot or two in the order.
21. Reds (28). They reeled off a five-game winning streak following Dusty Baker’s closed-door tirade. Asked if it made a difference, Dusty replied, "You can’t take credit for that. That’s a delicate thing. They could fall further in the depths." Translation: Those three games against the Astros were nice.
22. Mariners (17). Their recipe for pitching and defense would have a better chance if they could get just a little offense. Their designated hitters have yet to homer, no small reason why the team has been out-homered, 20-9.
23. Diamondbacks (25). They scored at least five runs in six of seven games last week. Too bad their pitching gave up double figures in four games.
24. Brewers (22). You know things aren’t going their way when they lose two at home to the Pirates and are shut out in three of four games at San Diego.
25. Royals (27). We’re not sure whether to be more impressed by Zack Greinke’s pitching (he didn’t allow a run in 14 innings last week) or his grace when defending his teammates (after not getting a win in either start). Doesn’t it bother you? "Not because it’s me personally," he said. "I feel like we’re playing better than every team we’ve played so far. We hit better and pitch better but we’ll have one bad inning or one situation where we will ruin a good opportunity. We’re playing good but not getting the job done and it’s cost us."
26. White Sox (19). Juan Pierre ranks seventh in runs and eighth in OBP on his own team. No wonder Ozzie Guillen dropped him out of the leadoff spot.
27. Orioles (30). Maybe they’ve hit bottom. After starting 2-14, they’re gone 5-4 in a 12-game stretch against the Red Sox and Yankees, with three at New York starting today.
28. Indians (26). They remain on pace to finish with more wins than the Cavs (67-61), that is, as long as only the Cavs’ regular season is included.
29. Pirates (29). They’ve already tried eight different starters, and only two of them have an ERA under 6.00.
30. Astros (21). The ever-streaky Astros’ six-game skid has them back at the bottom.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
Sponsored link: Cardinals tickets available
A glance at the standings last week showed that 28 teams had records no worse than three games under .500. That’s a lot of teams playing decent baseball. That’s good for parity, but not so good for power pollsters who have to, for example, decide where to rank five 11-14 teams.
Pulling names out of a hat would be too easy. Instead, we studied the trends, analyzed the numbers, consulted with our editor and then … flipped a coin. Just kidding about the coin, of course. Onto the poll.
How good is Adam Wainwright and the rest of the Cardinals’ rotation? We may find out this week.
1. Cardinals (5). These next four days will give us a much better idea of just how good is the Cardinals’ rotation, which leads the majors with a 2.55 ERA. The Cardinals face the mighty Phillies in Philly.
2. Rays (1). Losing two of four at home to the Royals was enough to drop them from the top spot. But they’ll be back if they perform on their nine-game journey to the West Coast like they did on their first trip of the season (9-1).
3. Padres (4). We don’t believe they’re this good, either. But after a 5-2 week that included three shutouts of the Brewers, they deserve to be here.
4. Yankees (3). Four regulars — A-Rod, Mark Teixeira, Nick Johnson and Curtis Granderson — have combined for just nine homers yet the Bombers still are 16-8. That is a deep lineup, one that will be without Granderson for at least 15 days (strained groin).
5. Twins (2). This is a deep organization: Joe Mauer is out with a bruised left heel and his replacement, top prospect Wilson Ramos, becomes the first Twin since Kirby Puckett to have a four-hit debut.
6. Giants (8). Who says these guys can’t hit? The Giants scored at least five runs in five of six games last week, enough to give them series wins over the Phillies and Rockies. Yet they still only rank 12th in runs in the NL.
7. Phillies (6). Brad Lidge served a homer to the first batter he faced after coming off the DL, which happened to be the same day his fill-in, Ryan Madson, went on the DL for kicking a chair and breaking a toe. No wonder there is concern about their bullpen.
Johnny Damon has performed for the Tigers.
8. Tigers (11). They knew what they were doing this off-season: Johnny Damon and Austin Jackson both are top five in runs and top 10 in OBP in the AL.
9. Rangers (24). Yes, moving up 15 spots is a big jump but the Rangers did win five of seven, including their first sweep at Safeco Field. Whatever Colby Lewis learned in Japan, it’s working. He’s 3-0 with a 2.76 ERA.
10. Rockies (9). Jim Tracy’s pre-game "talk" on Sunday and a strong start by rookie Jhoulys Chacin (one hit in seven innings) has the Rockies primed for better play. They’ll need it this week with series at San Diego and L.A.
11. Mets (11). That winning streak was nice but it sure ended with a thud. They were outscored 21-5 in dropping two at Philly.
12. Marlins (13). Jorge Cantu is much like his team: Largely unnoticed but pretty darn good. He has a hit in 23 of 24 games and leads the NL with 25 RBIs.
13. Nationals (12). Ho-hum. Another .500 week for last year’s doormats. And Stephen Strasburg is getting closer. Predicted debut: June 4, home, vs. Reds.
14. Cubs (18). They better win now. They’re in a three-series stretch against the NL’s worst-pitching clubs. They won three against the Diamondbacks (5.90 ERA), with Pirates (6.79) and Reds (5.46) next.
15. Angels (15). Mickey Hatcher on struggling youngster Brandon Wood: "I think his computer is overloading." The poll gets that same feeling when trying to figure out the Angels.
16. Red Sox (20). We’re focusing on J.D. Drew’s three-game hitting streak with three homers and Josh Beckett’s bounce-back start, not being swept at Baltimore.
17. Dodgers (16). Winning three of four at home against the Pirates doesn’t make up for being swept at New York.
Veron Wells has been great, but he can’t do it alone for the Blue Jays.
18. Blue Jays (14). Vernon Wells and Alex Gonzalez both rank among early-season surprises with eight homers each. But they need help.
19. A’s (7). Bet they’re glad to return home. Last week’s trip to the East did little for their place in the poll as they dropped five of six. It did even less for the team ERA, which shot to 4.04 from 2.93.
20. Braves (23). They’ll be even better when Bobby Cox moves Jason Heyward up another spot or two in the order.
21. Reds (28). They reeled off a five-game winning streak following Dusty Baker’s closed-door tirade. Asked if it made a difference, Dusty replied, "You can’t take credit for that. That’s a delicate thing. They could fall further in the depths." Translation: Those three games against the Astros were nice.
22. Mariners (17). Their recipe for pitching and defense would have a better chance if they could get just a little offense. Their designated hitters have yet to homer, no small reason why the team has been out-homered, 20-9.
23. Diamondbacks (25). They scored at least five runs in six of seven games last week. Too bad their pitching gave up double figures in four games.
24. Brewers (22). You know things aren’t going their way when they lose two at home to the Pirates and are shut out in three of four games at San Diego.
25. Royals (27). We’re not sure whether to be more impressed by Zack Greinke’s pitching (he didn’t allow a run in 14 innings last week) or his grace when defending his teammates (after not getting a win in either start). Doesn’t it bother you? "Not because it’s me personally," he said. "I feel like we’re playing better than every team we’ve played so far. We hit better and pitch better but we’ll have one bad inning or one situation where we will ruin a good opportunity. We’re playing good but not getting the job done and it’s cost us."
26. White Sox (19). Juan Pierre ranks seventh in runs and eighth in OBP on his own team. No wonder Ozzie Guillen dropped him out of the leadoff spot.
27. Orioles (30). Maybe they’ve hit bottom. After starting 2-14, they’re gone 5-4 in a 12-game stretch against the Red Sox and Yankees, with three at New York starting today.
28. Indians (26). They remain on pace to finish with more wins than the Cavs (67-61), that is, as long as only the Cavs’ regular season is included.
29. Pirates (29). They’ve already tried eight different starters, and only two of them have an ERA under 6.00.
30. Astros (21). The ever-streaky Astros’ six-game skid has them back at the bottom.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
Sponsored link: Cardinals tickets available
NBA: Vinny Del Negro appeared before Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf on Sunday to fight for his job, but the Chicago Tribune predicts the coach’s battle will be to no avail. Sources told the newspaper, Del Negro on Sunday pointed to Derrick Rose’s growth into an All-Star player, Joakim Noah’s progression and Taj Gibson’s All-Rookie selection as proof of his and his staff’s ability to develop young players.
MLB: New York Post scribe Mike Vaccaro’s ready to bury the Mets after Johan Santana got lit up by the Phillies: "You can really boil down everything — the weekend, this 11-5 loss, and the next five months of the Mets season — into one simple truth: If this is what Santana is now, and who he is now, then the Mets may well be staring into the abyss. For real. For good."
• Speaking of harsh words for ballclubs, Boston Globe writer Chad Finn sums up the Red Sox’s April: They’ve been a bummer and bore. Getting swept by the Orioles will do that to your attitude.
NFL: The Jets draw this big a crowd for cheerleader tryouts? Impressive.
Horse racing: Anyone know if there’s some sort of jinx attached to predicting a Triple Crown win? You know, like hockey players aren’t even supposed to mention the Stanley Cup until they win one? Calvin Borel is apparently not suspicious – or overly humble. Good New York Times read here on the guy who declared, "I’m going to win the Triple Crown this year."
NBA: Vinny Del Negro appeared before Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf on Sunday to fight for his job, but the Chicago Tribune predicts the coach’s battle will be to no avail. Sources told the newspaper, Del Negro on Sunday pointed to Derrick Rose’s growth into an All-Star player, Joakim Noah’s progression and Taj Gibson’s All-Rookie selection as proof of his and his staff’s ability to develop young players.
MLB: New York Post scribe Mike Vaccaro’s ready to bury the Mets after Johan Santana got lit up by the Phillies: "You can really boil down everything — the weekend, this 11-5 loss, and the next five months of the Mets season — into one simple truth: If this is what Santana is now, and who he is now, then the Mets may well be staring into the abyss. For real. For good."
• Speaking of harsh words for ballclubs, Boston Globe writer Chad Finn sums up the Red Sox’s April: They’ve been a bummer and bore. Getting swept by the Orioles will do that to your attitude.
NFL: The Jets draw this big a crowd for cheerleader tryouts? Impressive.
Horse racing: Anyone know if there’s some sort of jinx attached to predicting a Triple Crown win? You know, like hockey players aren’t even supposed to mention the Stanley Cup until they win one? Calvin Borel is apparently not suspicious – or overly humble. Good New York Times read here on the guy who declared, "I’m going to win the Triple Crown this year."
