|
|
| Rumors & Notes | |
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
|
Thursday, June 20, 2002
Red Sox Sign Ted Williams Son
 Sixteen years after his historic 1941 season, at the baseball ripe age of 38, Ted Williams batted .388 during the 1957 season. His only son is now prepared to do something far more inconceivable. He'll try to begin a professional baseball career at the age of 33. And it's no joke. John Henry Williams - The Kid's kid - is on the verge of signing a minor-league contract with the Red Sox that could be announced within a matter of days. Multiple sources confirmed that Williams recently approached the Sox about the possibility of playing in the minor leagues after working out for team representatives at the club's spring training base in Fort Myers. Williams, who will turn 34 in August, has no professional playing experience, placing his chances of even the slighest success in the Megabucks range. Far more accomplished athletes than Williams have failed in their attempts to play baseball, including Michael Jordan, who is regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time. Jordan tried his hand with the Chicago White Sox' Double-A affiliate in Birmingham and fell on his face. Though he bears a striking resemblance to Ted, the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Williams bats right-handed, unlike his left-handed-hitting, Hall-of-Fame father. He also throws right-handed - as did Ted Williams - and pitched himself to the Sox as a power-hitting first baseman. While John Henry Williams could not be reached for comment, indications were that the son contacted the Red Sox about the possibility of auditioning for them. It was unclear if Ted Williams had any role in the arrangement between his son and former team, but the Sox agreed to a tryout out of respect for Ted Williams, who is generally regarded as the greatest player in the history of the franchise. While it was unclear precisely where John Henry Williams would begin his playing career, the likeliest first stop was Fort Myers, site of the Red Sox' rookie ball affiliate in the Gulf Coast League. Rookie league participants typically consist of American and international players signed or drafted within the last one or two years. Most, if not all, are 17-20 years old, meaning Williams will be competing against some players who are roughly half his age. While Ted and John Henry Williams now reside in Florida, news of the son's intentions leaked as the Red Sox prepared for a game at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, where Ted Williams was born. The series between the Red Sox and San Diego Padres is the first ever between the team and will conclude tonight. Source: Boston Herald permalink
Cubs Scalp Own Tickets!
 In an unusual move that contradicts a longtime stance against ticket scalping, the Cubs have set aside tickets they will sell through a newly formed subsidiary on the so-called secondary market. Cubs executive vice president for business operations Mark McGuire would prefer not to use the word "scalp,'' but the tickets are being sold at market rate, typically above their face value. The team is doing this for the same reason it recently started allowing season-ticket holders to return tickets they don't plan to use for resale at a profit through the team Web site: Ticket brokers, scalpers and the secondary market aren't going anywhere soon. "The secondary market is going to continue whether we are in it or not,'' McGuire said. "We are going to be as creative as we can in developing our business.'' But McGuire also acknowledged the money-making opportunity. "I would say that as a business, if we are successful in finding new revenue streams, the average fan benefits because there is less pressure to raise the ticket price,'' he said. The tickets are sold through a subsidiary business called Wrigley Field Premium Ticket Services at 3717 N. Clark, just down the street from the ballpark. It is a licensed ticket broker where tickets are available on the resale market. On Tuesday, field box tickets for the St.Louis Cardinals games this weekend were going for $85 to $110. According to the team Web site, general field box prices range from $30 to $32. McGuire said the Cubs sold about 200 tickets for each game to Wrigley Field Premium Ticket Services. He said the tickets were pulled from a pool of VIP tickets and not from the regular cache available to fans. McGuire said the bold move--he does not think any other club is doing this--was made after the organization realized there is a market of Cubs fans who will not buy tickets months in advance for the games they want to see. Rather, they will wait until two weeks before the game, search for tickets and pay the big money for them, McGuire said. But instead of going to any other broker, including the five or six set up around Wrigley Field, the Cubs want you to come to them. McGuire said fans benefit from knowing the tickets they buy through the Cubs' subsidiary are the real thing. Kurt Soderholm of Front Row Ticket Service said the Cubs' entry into the secondary market creates an uneven playing field for other brokers because they control the product--the tickets that everybody wants. "You are the people who control the product, and now you're playing both sides of the fence,'' Soderholm said. Source: Chicago Sun-Times permalink
"Reggie Jackson Day" in the Bronx
 July 6 will be Reggie Jackson Day at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees will honor Jackson with a plaque in Monument Park beyond the center-field fence. Jackson's will be the 18th plaque on Monument Park's wall, which sits behind the five monuments -- to Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Miller Huggins, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle. The last to be honored with a plaque in Monument Park was public address announcer Bob Sheppard in 2000. Source: The Star-Ledger. permalink
Former Jazz center convicted of assault
 Former Utah Jazz center Olden Polynice was convicted of misdemeanor assault in a run-in with another golfer at a local course last year. A four-member jury returned the verdict Wednesday and sentencing was set for July 15 before Justice Court Judge Daniel Gibbons in this Salt Lake City suburb. The maximum penalty is six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. Polynice was accused of hitting 21-year-old Tyler Swensen after he was struck above the right elbow by an errant tee shot by one of Swensen's playing partners at the the Old Mill Golf Course. ``It is not fair, I feel, but I have to move on,'' said Polynice, who contended he never punched Swensen but only pushed him when he thought Swensen was going to hit him. ``I am a little hurt by this. I thought I had the same rights as everyone else in America,'' he said. In January 2001, Polynice pleaded guilty to two counts of impersonating a police officer and one count of disorderly contact. He was fined $1,000, forced to apologize and ordered to undergo anger management counseling. Polynice opted out of his $2.4 million contract with the Jazz at the end of the 2001 season and said he hopes this conviction will not hamper his attempts to sign with another NBA team. Source: AP Sports permalink
Dodger Kicked out of Jays Clubhouse
 By Ben Maller Odalis Perez a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers was in the Toronto Blue Jays clubhouse on Tuesday afternoon trying to say hello to Jays skipper Carlos Tosca. When Perez entered the visiting clubhouse to speak with Tosca who he played for in his minor league days the manager's door was closed so Perez waited a few minutes hoping to get a word with his old friend. During this brief time the Blue Jays pitching coach Gil Patterson spotted Perez in his clubhouse and told him to get the BLEEP out! Perez thought that Patterson was kidding but he wasn't. The exchange got more heated and Perez was finally kicked out of the Blue Jays clubhouse without speaking to the Jays manager. Earlier this season while Buck Martinez was skipper in Toronto, Boston's Pedro Martinez was seen less than an hour before a game at Fenway Park talking with several Jays players. Perez was not pleased with the action's of Patterson and will have that in the back of his head tonight when he pitches for the Dodgers against Toronto at Dodger Stadium. Source: BenMaller.com Mole permalink
Big Ben's Thursday Rumors & Notes
Baseball Rumors & Notes  Has it come to this? There was Mets GM Steve Phillips taking batting practice three hours before last night's game at Shea.  The Oakland A's are interested in trading for Pirates Slugger Brian Giles. San Francisco's Dusty Baker said he politely turned down an invitation from Arizona manager Bob Brenly to be a National League All-Star coach in Milwaukee next month. Astros general manager Gerry Hunsicker said the team must be at or near the .500 mark at the All-Star break to have a realistic chance of making a run during the second half.  Florida's Luis Castillo's hitting streak reaches 33, longest among second basemen It appears that when right-hander Todd Stottlemyre rejoins the Diamondbacks from the disabled list toward the end of next week, he will be used out of the bullpen rather than as a starter.  Pitcher Al Leiter could end up with the Yanks if the Mets don't resign him soon. David Wells of the Yanks believes MLB has a set of rules for the superstars and another set for other players. It has been more than a year since anyone in the Orioles organization has heard from Albert Belle, the slugging outfielder forced into retirement by a degenerative arthritic hip in March 2001. That trend continues during this interleague series, despite the fact that Belle reportedly lives in Scottsdale, Arizona and the O's are playing the D'Backs. For the first time, Phillies 3B Scott Rolen admitted that listening to the boos and constant fan ridicule has made it difficult to do his job at home. "Yeah, it is tough," Rolen said. "You have a job to do and you try to focus mentally and you try to lock in. But from time to time, it seems easier to do that on the road lately.  Outfielder George Lombard was taking batting practice before Wednesday's game with the Tigers when he was summoned to Braves manager Bobby Cox's office. When Lombard got there, general manager John Schuerholz told him he had been traded to the Tigers. SAD:The daughter of Braves second baseman Marcus Giles, born prematurely at 26 weeks and weighing only 1 pound, died Wednesday. Turns out the GiantsBarry Bonds wasn't that mad at Rays' Travis Harper. If anything, he was more angry with his own pitchers. Yanks prospect lefty Brandon Claussen is headed for Tommy John surgery. He was the guy that they where going to trade for Cliff Floyd or Jeff Weaver. A number of Red Sox players and coaches, including Trot Nixon, Casey Fossum , and Jason Varitek, visited the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz yesterday. Pirates catcher Jason Kendall talked by phone late yesterday afternoon with Milwaukee LF Geoff Jenkins, whose ankle was hurt Monday night in an injury similar to one Kendall received July 4, 1999. A published report came out in which Scott Rolen allegedly was termed a clubhouse cancer, Rolen is 2-for-25. He is, in fact, hitless in six of the seven games he played. Coincidence? Tanyon Sturtze doesn't know what his record should be. But given his relatively respectable 4.79 ERA, the 10 starts in which he has allowed four or fewer runs (and the five in which he has given up two or fewer), he knows this much: It shouldn't be 0-7.  Bobby Valentine remains perplexed over Shawn Estes' $750 fine for throwing behind Roger Clemens while Clemens avoided any fine after he "introduced" himself to Barry Bonds with a baseball hitting Bonds' body armor. July 6 will be "Reggie Jackson Day" at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees will honor Jackson with a plaque in Monument Park beyond the center-field fence. The Cardinals acted quickly Wednesday morning to ensure that Hall of Fame broadcaster Jack Buck will be with them for the rest of this season. Only hours after Buck died Tuesday night, Cardinals equipment manager Buddy Bates transported the team's home and road jerseys to a Chesterfield lettering facility where a patch bearing John Francis Buck's initials were sewn onto every right sleeve. Philly trails the Braves by 10 1/2 games - the fans, for the second straight night, chanted "E-A-G-L-E-S" as the game seemed lost. The Mets had a pregame moment of silence for Cardinals broadcaster Jack Buck, who died Tuesday. Former Cardinal Joe McEwing remembered Buck as a quick wit, even in his final years. "I'd say to him, 'Hi Jack,' and he'd go, 'Don't say that in an airport,'" McEwing said. Tribe third baseman Travis Fryman believes the game would be better served if the umpires let the players police themselves. ``No question about it,'' Fryman said. ``The players have been doing a pretty good job for 125 years." Better days are ahead for the Milwaukee Brewers. Just ask baseball Commissioner Bud Selig. If nothing else in recent losing seasons, Cubdom has had Sammy Sosa to soothe the pain. But this year, 26 home runs in 69 games does little for me. I find myself watching Sosa and thinking the worst thing that happened to him was the day the Yankees, all set to trade Alfonso Soriano and other kids to Chicago, decided he wasn't worth his financial demands and nixed the trade. By now, he would have played in two World Series, owned a championship ring and become the toast of New York. Instead, his money and status ultimately went to younger Jason Giambi, who doesn't have half of Sosa's charisma.  Perhaps this is the emerging theme for the 2002 season: Win the World Series for Jack. It has been 15 years since the Cardinals last played in a World Series, and they haven't won the Fall Classic since 1982. The Cardinals need a push, and now they have a friend in high places. Jack Buck did so many good deeds, he certainly has some favors coming to him. Maybe Jack Buck can pull a string or two up there. After trudging around the mound with his head down for five innings Tuesday, Chan Ho Park admitted that his body language doesn't lie. He's miserable. He said, however, it has nothing to do with regrets over signing with the Rangers. Park, who is in the first year of a five-year, $71 million contract with the Rangers, said Wednesday he is simply unhappy over his lack of results. In an unusual move that contradicts a longtime stance against ticket scalping, the Cubs have set aside tickets they will sell through a newly formed subsidiary on the so-called secondary market. The ball Ken Griffey Jr. hit for his 2,000th hit is in a safe place. Griffey got No.2,000 on an infield single Tuesday night against Seattle. How long it takes before the ball is sitting in Griffey's trophy room in Orlando, Fla., is hard to say. Royals hitters have been absolutely horrible again this season, especially fundamentally. No team in major-league baseball has been shut out more times (eight) than the Royals. The franchise record is 18, well within reach if they stay focused. The Royals are last in the league in batting average (.240). They are last in the league in slugging percentage (.380). They are dead last in the majors in home runs (50). And they are last in the league in total bases (839). The solution? It's obvious. Fire the pitching coach. Sixteen years after his historic 1941 season, at the baseball ripe age of 38, Ted Williams batted .388 during the 1957 season. His only son is now prepared to do something far more inconceivable. He'll try to begin a professional baseball career at the age of 33. And it's no joke. Twins union representative Denny Hocking and teammates LaTroy Hawkins and Tom Prince spent two hours early Wednesday sitting in on a negotiating session between representatives for the players' union and major league owners. The University of Miami president said Wednesday any proposal to reconfigure the Orange Bowl to make it suitable for baseball would have to be worked out between the Marlins and the city of Miami, but the university would welcome renovations to the aging stadium. Congress, union both playing games panel will do nothing on steroids, but something must be done. Mets radio broadcasts are staying on WFAN instead of ESPN Radio. NFL Rumors & Notes  Dolphins' Ricky Williams pays price for being black, RB doesn't blame racism for actions of police -- but others do Free agent defensive tackle Sam Adams said he remains interested in signing with the Washington Redskins if the team is willing to offer him what he considers a suitable contract. The New England Patriots are looking at QB Eric Zeier. Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde's rehab is right on schedule. Linebacker Earl Holmes, one of the Browns' biggest acquisitions in free agency, underwent minor arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Tuesday. Eagles' coach Andy Reid will keep an eye on the waiver wire, but he sees no pressing need to change the team's chemistry.  Steelers linebacker Kendrell Bell earned the NFL's defensive rookie of the year award in 2001, now during the week he's attending college. Donovan McNabb speaking at a charity function in Philly on the Eagles 2002 season: "All I see is San Diego [site of next year's Super Bowl]," he said. "We definitely need your support. Forget about [NFC East Division rivals] Washington, Dallas, the New York Giants. It's our year. The 2001 season was a humbling experience for New Orleans Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks, who said he felt the weight of the world on his broad shoulders. Dolphins' Leon Searcy set to re-emerge Injuries wiped out two seasons and made him a forgotten star Colts leave fans wondering about motives.  Irving officials have told City Council members that the Dallas Cowboys are interested in extending their Texas Stadium lease past 2008, when it is set to expire. For the past five seasons, the Panthers have been widely regarded as weak in the trenches. Coach John Fox said he now considers the offensive and defensive lines to be the strength of the team. The Jets are in a hurry to improve their weak pass rush and Bryan Thomas is in a rush to start sacking quarterbacks for them. With that, Thomas, the 22nd overall selection last April, yesterday officially become the second draft pick signed after quarterback David Carr, who was actually inked by the expansion Houston Texans before the draft. Before running down Walter Payton, Cowboys star Emmitt Smith has a date with President Bush. Smith is in Washington today where the standout running back will be named to the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports at the White House Fitness Expo. NBA Rumors & Notes  76ers eye Lamar Odom of the Clippers and call about Kevin Garnett of Minnesota and Austin Croshere of Indiana. It's possible the Cavs might draft a player for another team and trade him for a veteran, possibly a perimeter player who can handle the ball. Point guard Tim Hardaway -- whose contract might be bought out by Denver -- would like to return to the Heat, but a reunion is highly unlikely. ''Everyone knows what Tim was, but he moved on, and we moved on,'' Riley said. The Milwaukee Bucks have many draft options. Boston businessman Steve Belkin is in a hurry to own an NBA team. He wants that team in Charlotte, and expects to settle the issue by the end of September. Wang Zhizhi's rebellion against China's demands to return to his native country has led to a short-term severance with the team that brought him to the NBA the Mavericks. Yao Ming is in good health as talks progress Examination by Rockets dispels doubts Chris Wilcox of Maryland has become the "Hot" name moving up NBA Draft boards.  The Knicks are licking their chops following Mike Dunleavy's decision yesterday to stay in the draft, raising the likelihood of Maryland power forward stud Chris Wilcox falling into their laps at No. 7. Memphis wants Mike Dunleavy but he might be gone by the time the Grizz pick. Jared Jeffries' NBA stock is on the rise. Many analysts believe the former Indiana University standout will be chosen with one of the top 11 picks of Wednesday's NBA draft. In Game 4 of the NBA Finals, Net forward Kenyon Martin played the finest game of his career with a right wrist that will undergo surgery today. The New Orleans Hornets are not going to let reserve forward Lee Nailon explore free agency without making an attempt to keep him. Bulls' Charles Oakley Leads NBA's All-Interview Team. College Rumors & Notes  Kansas State's top basketball recruit, Marques Hayden, learned Wednesday that he's become eligible to accept a scholarship for the 2002-2003 season. The University Cincinnati vehemently disputes the charge that the school is failing to give its female athletes a fair share of athletic scholarship dollars, as required by Title IX. Indiana fullback won't be back for final season. University of Alabama-Birmingham athletic director Herman Frazier is the University of Hawaii's choice to succeed retiring athletic director Hugh Yoshida, school officials said Wednesday. Odd Notes & Stuff  After winning the Masters Tournament and the U.S. Open, Tiger Woods is an 8-5 favorite to complete the first calendar-year sweep of golf's four major professional tournaments. Segio Garcia on losing to Tiger Woods at the US OPEN: "At least we're making him work for it," said Garcia, who missed a dozen putts inside of 10 feet at Bethpage and finished six strokes in arrears of Woods. Wladimir Klitschko dreams of boxing heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis. The NHL is expected to mandate the installation of protective netting at all league arenas during its annual Board of Governors meeting today.  A Bad Boy was hired to coach the WNBA's worst. Bill Laimbeer, who helped the Pistons win two NBA titles in his 13 years with the team, was introduced as head coach of the Shock on Wednesday. The WNBA is one of Title IX's most notable offspring. It was promoted as the biggest step forward in women's athletics, because it had the blessings and backing of NBA owners, its principal sponsors and NBC. Providing the WNBA with the same support given the NBA was supposed to produce a healthy bottom line for the league. Instead, the WNBA is dying. Retired boxing champion Muhammad Ali lit a symbolic flame representing freedom at the groundbreaking of an Underground Railroad museum. The organizers of the Miss Universe beauty pageant were so bursting with pride about the rating for its show May 29 on CBS, they took out a full-page ad in the Tuesday New York Times to tell the universe they beat the NBA playoff game that night. "Beauty Beats the Beast," the headline reads over a picture of winner Miss Russia in a swimsuit.  Young athletes take a gamble on pros U.S. Goalkeeper Brad Friedel Overcomes Array of Competition to Star at World Cup Is it time to jump on the World Cup soccer bandwagon? "At last, a World Cup that George W. Bush can understand. ... [Bush] admits that he is as befuddled by the strange sport of soccer as he seems to be by, say, global warming or the Middle East peace process. ... It does not necessarily help that the Washington Post calls football 'Osama bin Laden's favorite game.'' Who ever would have expected to find Warren Spahn, Rosa Parks, Edward R. Murrow, Marilyn Monroe and Theodore Roosevelt in the same baseball card set? The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has sent seven saddlebred horses rescued from abusive situations to receive care at former NBA star Jayson Williams' sprawling estate. A prized trophy won by Seabiscuit, one of thoroughbred racing's greatest champions, has been recovered after turning up on an Internet auction site 50 years after it was stolen in a California burglary. "Diamond" Dallas Page is trying to deal with retirement from the WWE. permalink |
 |
|