Category: Sports

I have no particular side in this debate. Overall it seems to me that calling an American Indian a “Redskin” is pretty obviously racist, but I know few American Indians. But to me a corporation gets to name itself anything (freedom of speech) and people get to react to that name, and say anything about that name that they want (also, freedom of speech).

I subscribed to Sports Illustrated for ages. I used to love Rick Reilly (would often skip to the back page to read him first). But that was a long time ago. Today I frankly consider a printed magazine a quaint concept and about half the time I when read Rick Reilly I roll my eyes.

If you have no idea what this is about, a few publications have decided that in this day and age the name “Redskins” is too racist so they will refer to the football team as “the football team from Washington DC”. This is pretty much a fringe movement, though it is growing slowly.

So if you are interested, first read this Grantland article. Then read Rick Reilly’s article. And then read this article.

For a Yankees fan anyway.

The Yankees tribute to Mariano Rivera will be September 22. The Daily News Yankees blogger has a post announcing it and he posts the URL as:

Yankees.com/ExitSandman

Of course the page actually links to the right URL. If the Yankees were slick, that would be a valid URL.

ESPN has a nice overview of the lame Braun apology. This may be an especially bad one, but sports apologies are generally horrible. Let’s break this one down.

As I have acknowledged in the past, I am not perfect.

ESPN covered this one well. What? You aren’t the messiah? Who knew?

I realize now that I have made some mistakes.

Sympathetic response would be just, “well duh”. The more real response would be, “so when you were using illegal drugs and denigrating the integrity of the drug testing employee it didn’t dawn on you that this was wrong? You just figured this out?”.

I am willing to accept the consequences of those actions.

Sure, only now when you have zero choice.

This situation has taken a toll on me and my entire family, and it is has been a distraction to my teammates and the Brewers organization.

I am the victim here, feel sorry for me. No, really.

I am very grateful for the support I have received from players, ownership and the fans in Milwaukee and around the country.

Thankfully most fans are suckers who will always root for their uniform.

Finally, I wish to apologize to anyone I may have disappointed — all of the baseball fans especially those in Milwaukee, the great Brewers organization, and my teammates.

This is the classic sports non-apology. “I didn’t do anything wrong, but if you are disappointed in me I’m sorry for that”. This is the total BS apology. Not apologizing for doing something wrong, apologizing to anyone who might be upset. Please.

I am glad to have this matter behind me once and for all, and I cannot wait to get back to the game I love.

This is the wishful thinking line. “I desperately want this to be behind me so I can continue to make millions”.

Ryan Braun just did it, but you can go back to most sports apologies and find the same pattern.

ESPN covers it best.

As I have acknowledged in the past, I am not perfect.
— Ryan Braun

Well, I might be speaking only for myself here, but I’m glad that’s cleared up. Of all the revelations arising from Ryan Braun’s season-ending PED suspension, the news that Braun is not a faultless messiah might have been the most underplayed.

Apparently there was doubt in some circles.

Seriously, who talks like that? What level of narcissism is possible to allow those words to be attached to your name? What sentient being, in an attempt to either explain or apologize, would even consider putting those words together?

Braun is just another in a long line of athletes who don’t know how to apologize. It’s an epidemic, an absolute plague across the land. Why are those two words — I’m sorry — so damned hard?

Anyone want to bet on whose apology will be worse, Ryan Braun or A-Rod? As bad as Braun’s was, I’m still going with A-Rod…

Braun suspended. A-Rod presumably next. At this point, I say suspend them for a long time. The lies were ridiculous.

The Yankees are doing what we expected and falling apart this year. I can live with that, they are old and we’ve had plenty of good years.

It’s Mo’s last season and he’s doing it with class and style and that’s all I need from baseball right now.

It was odd seeing Mariano Rivera in the 8th inning of the All Star Game, but I get Leyland’s plan to make sure he got a full inning and a special moment.

If I could embed this MLB video, I would.

For Mo’s farewell season, every time he visits a stadium for the last time, he has asked the opposing team to let him meet with regular behind the scenes stadium workers and fans.

I was wildly intrigued with the concept,” Dipoto said. “Most guys are content to travel around from city to city and let the fans and clubs adore them. Mo has gone around telling the fans and the people behind the scenes how much he adores them. That’s unheard-of. It’s one of the neatest things I’ve ever seen a player do. – Jerry Dipoto, Angels’ general manager

Truly one of the great sports quotes:

I have no problem putting my nuts in the line of fire.

– Roy Hibbert, Indiana Pacers

Potentially painful…

If you are a baseball geek, this article from Grantland is fascinating…

OK, the Yankees are in first place. In a normal year, that would be normal. But this year, most folks picked the Yankees to be rather lame. And throw in injuries to:

• Derek Jeter (first ballot Hall of Fame)
• Alex Rodridguez (hmm, by stats, first ballot, but enough drug issues so probably not)
• Mark Teixeira: All Star, probably not HOF stats
• Kevin Youkilis: see above.
• Curtis Granderson: see above.
• Francisco Cervelli: Not an all star, but the starting catcher. Kind of important.
• Eduardo Nunez: Utility guy, but the backup for Jeter at short. So we’re playing the #3 guy.

So today the Yankees won with a starting pitcher named Vidal Nuno going 5 and a reliever named Adam Warren going 4.

We won 7-0.

Honestly, it’s been a fun season so far, because we are winning on pitching and small ball. But I don’t know who these guys are…

Exactly a year ago today, Mariano Rivera tore his ACL, ending his season and requiring surgery and rehab. He’s back this year and is currently the oldest player in Major League Baseball.

For the folks that wondered if he could bounce back from a torn ACL at 43, here are his stats so far this year:

Saves: 11 (out of 11 chances, tied for the best in the majors)

Walks: 1

Strikeout: 12

ERA: 1.59

WHIP: 0.97

Those last two stats are slightly better than his career average.

His velocity is down a bit, so he does actually age. But opposing batters don’t seem to think so.

From the NY Post:

“Even after all these years,” an AL scout said, “I don’t know what I would advise hitters to do against him. They have been trying to figure him out for 20 years. I’m guessing they aren’t going to figure him out this season either.”